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| Staff Writer |
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California stormed to victory in the Owner's Cup in a thrilling season finale at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir last night, claiming the lion's share of the US$31,800 prize purse for owner Abdulla Sami Nass and trainer Fawzi Nass.
The 4YO gelding, ridden confidently by jockey Alberto Sanna, clinched victory by three-quarters of a length from runner-up Memory Card, representing M and E Racing, AM Smith and Marcialis Jaures in the 2,000m feature for local runners.
National Guard commander Lieutenant-General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa was present to witness the exciting eight-race card that brought down the curtain on the 2024-25 national horseracing campaign.
Living Art, also owned by Abdulla Sami Nass and trained by Fawzi Nass, took third place with Rosie Jessop aboard, while Mudallal completed the frame in fourth for Al Mohamediya Racing, Fawzi Nass and Neil Callan.
The evening's other major prizes saw Zagato claim the Gr.1 Bahrain Gold Cup and Piz Nair triumph in the Champions Sprint, both carrying US$26,500 in prize money.
7YO gelding Zagato secured a thrilling head victory in the 2,000m contest for imported horses, representing the Al Mohamediya-Nass-Callan team. Bleak finished a close second for Abdulla Fawzi Nass, Fawzi Nass and Sanna, with Salamanca Lad in third for Al Afoo Racing, Jaber Ramadhan and Szczepan Mazur. Intricacy filled fourth spot for Al Khaldiya, Smith and Lee Newman.
4YO gelding Piz Nair delivered an impressive performance in the 1,200m Champions Sprint for imported runners, prevailing by a full length for Al Adiyat Racing, Smith and jockey Ebrahim Nader.
Devaste claimed second for Al Mohamediya, Osama Hashim and Callan, while Nomadic Empire took third for the same owner-trainer combination with Hussain Asghar in the saddle. Inveigle completed the places for Sayed Jawad Marzooq, Mahmood Jawad and Jessop.
The supporting card saw further success for the Al Adiyat-Smith-Nader partnership as Byline captured the Mile Cup and Cracksking landed the Cup, both races offering US$13,250 in prize money.
Byline proved victorious in the 1,600m contest for imported horses, narrowly defeating Merlin's Beard representing Al Mohamediya-Hashim-Callan. Pure Dreamer took third for Al Adiyat, Smith and Abdulrahim Jasim, with Juantorena fourth for Victorious, Fawzi Nass and Sanna.
Cracksking completed the double for connections, finishing ahead of Panning For Gold in second for Al Mohamediya-Nass-Callan. Vestigia claimed third for Al Afoo Racing, Jaber Ramadhan and Mazur, with Knight Of Honour completing the frame.
The card was rounded off with Son Of Zous landing the Victory Sprint (US$10,600) for M and E, Smith and Jaures, Night Lantern taking the Prestige Cup (US$10,600) for the same connections with Newman aboard, and Kuheilan Al Adiyat 1894 securing the Arabian Cup (US$3,975) for Victorious, Yousif Taher and Jasim.