Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today attended the Crown Prince’s Cup Festival, sponsored by Cebarco, held from January 30-31, at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
His Royal Highness emphasised the significance of horse-racing as an integral part of Bahrain’s rich heritage, noting that the Kingdom has experienced remarkable progress in the equestrian sports sector. His Royal Highness attributed this advancement to the continuous support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister underscored the importance of building on the Kingdom’s achievements in the equestrian sector at the local, regional, and international levels, highlighting the role of various programmes and initiatives in strengthening Bahrain’s position as a global leader in the field.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister commended the REHC for its organisational efforts in hosting the festival.
His Royal Highness affirmed the pivotal role of the REHC High Committee, under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Education Charitable Trust, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), and Chairman of the REHC High Committee, in advancing the horse racing sector.
His Royal Highness extended his best wishes to His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman, as well as to the owners, trainers, and jockeys from the various stables, for success in achieving their desired goals.
Joseph George Nakash, the Regional Director of SEIKO Group, presented the third-round cup to the winning owner, Ibrahim Al Afoo.
His Highness Shaikh Sultan Al-Din bin Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa received the fourth-round cup from Jeremy Green, the international representative of the Irish Racing Horse Marketing Company, who also presented prizes to the trainer and jockey who won first place in the fourth round.
His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the President of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF), presented the Bahrain Oaks Cup to the winning owner, Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim.
Isa Kanoo, Member of the Board of Directors of Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo Company, presented the eighth-round Cup to the winning owner, Ibrahim Al Afoo.
Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim, the CEO of Cebarco, presented the Hawar Cup by Cebarco to the winners of the seventh-round and eighth-round of the Bahrain Turf Series to City House, owned by Fox and Badger Racing, who came in first place in the seventh round. Abdulrahim also presented the awards to the trainer and jockey, who came in first place.
His Highness Shaikh Sultan Al-Din bin Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa received the Anchorman Cup by Howden from David Howden, the founder and CEO of Howden Company, after the horse Merlin’s Beard of Al Mohamediya stable won first place in the eighth round.
The Crown Prince’s Cup Festival will conclude on Friday, 31 January 2025, with eight major races to be held tomorrow. The most important of these is the Crown Prince Cup, which is designated for purebred Bahraini Arabian horses known as WAHO, local bred Cup, and imported horses Cup.
The results of the nine-round race held today are as follows:
1. Race 1 – over a distance of 1400m, WAHO, WFA, All Classes
1st Winner: Tuwaisan 1844 Jockey: Ebrahim Nader Owner: Al Riffa Trainer: Yousif Alboainain
2. Race 2 – over a distance of 1400m, Local Bred, WFA, Class 4, Maiden
1st Winner: Evergreen Jockey: Leena Newman Owner: Al Adiyat Racing Trainer: A.M. Smith
3. Grand Seiko – Bahrain Jewellery Centre Cup – over a distance of 1600m, Imported, Handicap
1st Winner: Gimmie Shelter Jockey: Jim Crowley Owner: Al-Afoo Racing Trainer: Jaber Ramadhan
4. Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup – over a distance of 1000m, Local Bred, Handicap
1st Winner: Al Hadba Jockey: Hasan Al Saffar Owner: Al Mohamediya Racing Trainer: Abbas Al Mawali
5. Bahrain Oaks (Sponsored by Al Muzdaher Stud) – over a distance of 1800m, Local Bred, Graded, Class 1, Domestic Grade 1
1st Winner: Jerusalema Jockey: Alberto Sanna Owner: Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim Trainer: Haider Ebrahim
6. The Hawar Cup By Cebarco – over a distance of 1200m Str, Imported, Handicap
1st Winner: City House Jockey: Callum Shepherd Owner: Fox and Badger Racing Trainer: George Scott
7. The Anchorman Cup By Howden – over a distance of 1800m, Imported, Handicap
1st Winner: Merlin’s Beard Jockey: Hussain Asghar Owner: Al Mohamediya Racing Trainer: Osama Hashim
8. Lexus Cup – Over a distance of 2400m, Imported, Handicap
1st Winner: Celtic Warrior Jockey: Jim Crowley Owner: Al-Afoo Racing Trainer: Jaber Ramadhan
9. Race 9 – over a distance of 2200m, Local Bred, Handicap
1st Winner: Zafarani Jockey: Neil Callan Owner: Al Mohamediya Racing Trainer: Osama Hashim
His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, several senior officials, sponsors, and horseracing enthusiasts also attended the festival.
