Scotland's Dain Ma Nut In Takes Bahrain Anchorman
Russell's Raider Creates History As Al Adiyat Breaks Turf Series Duck
Dain Ma Nut In, the 5YO gelding from the Scottish yard of Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, created history by becoming the first Scotland-trained winner in Bahrain when landing the Anchorman Cup.
Up The Pace, representing Daniel and Claire Kubler and carrying the colours of Al Adiyat Racing, provided the owners with their maiden Bahrain Turf Series success in the Hawar Cup. Both feature races offering US$80,000 in total prize money produced memorable performances on the opening night of the Crown Prince's Cup Festival, with seven further races completing an action-packed card.
Russell's Raider Rebounds In Anchorman Cup
Dain Ma Nut In's victory represented a remarkable turnaround after the gelding had virtually pulled up on his Bahrain debut in December, hanging badly on the home turn. Bounced out of the stalls by Lewis Edmunds, riding the horse for the first time, the 5YO took the lead early and was not for catching, holding off all 14 rivals throughout the 2,000m contest before winning by two and a half lengths from Vestigia, trained by Jaber Ramadhan and ridden by Billy Loughnane. Salamanca Lad, also from the Ramadhan yard with Connor Beasley aboard, finished third.
Representing Russell and Scudamore was their assistant trainer Steven Kelly, who was pleasantly surprised by the win. "We were just hoping for a nice run tonight," said Kelly. "Everybody else in the series has been up and running and we have missed out through one thing and the next, so for him to go and do that, it was a big performance. It's brilliant to be invited out here and we're so grateful to the owners, Lamont Racing, who were really keen to give it a go. He's a good horse and he'll stay further, so our options are open."
Edmunds added: "When you watch his wins back in the UK, he's a free-running horse and it's just the way he likes to go. We obviously got to the front early today, as he had the pace to get there from a good draw, he's then done it his way and he was so willing at the finish."
Hot Dancer, trained by Ali Abdulmajeed for Al Mohamediya Racing with Jason Hart aboard, finished fourth, while Westridge completed the places for the Kublers with Tom Marquand in the saddle. Rollajam, Soldier's Empire, Azka, Urban Sprawl, Athan, Phoenix Passion, Wave Rider, Slieve Binnian, Max Mayhem and Merlin's Beard completed the field.
Marquand Delivers In Hawar Cup
The colours of Al Adiyat Racing are no strangers to the winner's enclosure in Bahrain, however they had never been carried to victory in a Bahrain Turf Series race until Up The Pace made his kingdom debut a winning one. Brilliantly prepared by the Kublers and ridden by Bahrain Turf Club ambassador Marquand, the 4YO lived up to his name in the 1,200m sprint, holding off challenges from a succession of international raiders.
Comanche Falls, the 9YO trained by Michael Dods with Beasley aboard, finished second, with Spangled Mac from George Boughey's yard third under Loughnane. Blue Day, trained by George Scott for Victorious Forever, took fourth.
Marquand said: "He surprised me with how much pace he showed, he has obviously won over further and I was expecting him to take a bit longer to get going but he picked up really well and as a result I hit the front about a furlong too soon. He's a lovely horse going forward and he clearly loves conditions here."
Daniel Kubler added: "We're still learning about the horse and we were not expecting him to win like that. He had done just enough work to start him off, so maybe that suited him, being fresh. To win a Bahrain Turf Series race was something His Highness has been very keen to achieve, so it's a very satisfying result for everyone."
Roman Dragon, Kaasib, Chief Mankato, Partisan Hero, Desert Cop, Dubai Bling, Burdett, Another Baar, Inveigle, Redemption Time, Buffer Zone, Dairerin, Dream Out Loud and Nationwide completed the field.
De La Sayette Shines In Bahrain Oaks
Young jockey Benoit De La Sayette reached a new peak in his Bahrain season when guiding Wanisa to victory in the Bahrain Oaks. The lightly raced but improving 4YO filly, owned by Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim and trained by Haider Ebrahim, drew clear in the closing stages to score impressively. Intelligence, trained by the Kublers with Marquand aboard, finished second, while Evergreen, also from the Kubler yard, took third under Ebrahim Nader.
De La Sayette said: "We were confident going beforehand and we got in the perfect pitch. She's a filly who wears her heart on her sleeve and she hit the line strong. It's only her third start and she's only going to progress further. I am over here to ride for Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim and so it's lovely to get one on the board for him at a major meeting such as this."
Perast, trained by Fawzi Nass, finished fourth, with Mind Your Manners and Illuminate completing the field.
Scott Secures Investcorp Cup Glory
Newmarket trainer Scott landed his fifth winner of the season when Nepal made all the running under Rosie Jessop in the Investcorp Cup over 2,400m. Given a bold front-running ride, the 4YO extended his lead on the turn for home and still had nearly two lengths to spare at the line. Refreshment, trained by Ramadhan with Ray Dawson aboard, finished second, while Knight Of Honour, trained by Abdulmajeed with Neil Callan in the saddle, took third. Bleak, Signalman, Malakye, Young Ireland and Tartan Chief completed the field.
Al Ma'anagy Takes Gulf Air Cup
Al Ma'anagy, trained by Yousif Taher for Victorious Forever, landed the Gulf Air Cup over 1,200m under Qais Al Busaidi. The 4YO colt won by four and a half lengths from Mlolshan, trained by Yousif Alboainain for Al Khaldiya with Adnan Jaffar aboard. Kuheilan Aafas, also from the Alboainain yard with Marcialis Jaures in the saddle, finished a short head back in third. Obeyan, Al Saqlawy, Al Saqlawy M1125, Al Hamdany, Krushan M1121, Krushan M1177, Kuheilan Aladiyat, Al Rabda, Krushan, Al Suwaitieh, Al Shuwaimeh and Musannan completed the field.
Hattaab Prevails In Lexus Cup
Hattaab, trained by Abdulla Kuwaiti for HH Sheikh Salman bin Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, landed the Lexus Cup over 2,200m in a thrilling finish under Edmunds. The 5YO gelding prevailed by a neck from Al Yateem, trained by Ebrahim for Abdulrahim with De La Sayette aboard. December, trained by Abdulmajeed for Al Mohamediya Racing with Hart in the saddle, finished a length back in third. Call Me Maybe, Zafarani, Majarah, Mowja, Aajay, Pegasus, Scorpius, Budva and Bint Al Jazeera completed the field.
Nader Doubles Up In Grand Seiko Cup
Bahrain's current champion and leading rider this season, Nader, landed the first leg of a quick double when guiding Ezz Albahrain to victory in the Grand Seiko Cup over 1,400m. The 5YO gelding, trained by Ahmed Al Sadah for Al Jasmi Stable, prevailed by a head from Call Of Duty, trained by Paul Smith with Lee Newman aboard.
Asaaff, trained by Kuwaiti with Edmunds in the saddle, finished third. Meaad, Pisces, El Basma, Lady Hurricane, Saher, Mister Dollar, Warda, Jadwa, Injazat, Talqa, San Diego, Anwaar, Princess Den and Ganadeel completed the field, while Rashash did not finish.
Almonaady Completes Nader Double In Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup
Nader completed his double when steering Almonaady to victory in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup over 1,600m. The 4YO gelding, trained by Osama Hashim for AlSameea Racing, prevailed by a neck from Anwaar, trained by Abdulmajeed for Al Mohamediya Racing with Callan aboard. Gimmie Shelter, trained by Ramadhan for Al-Afoo Racing with Beasley in the saddle, finished two and a half lengths back in third. Atlantic Sky, Crypto Princess, Cosmo Goodspeed, Harbour Spirit, Eighth Avenue, Jarham, Whathappensinvegas, Forbidden Land, Alabrar, Mujtahid, Lady Lynx, Lazarus Dream, Aviano and Flame Spirit completed the field.
Ghost Ship Haunts Rivals In Finale
The Ghost Ship, trained by Jaffar Marzooq for Ahmed Khalil Ali Khalil, landed the concluding 1,000m sprint under Sandro Paiva. The 7YO prevailed by a neck from Alhadba, trained by Abbas Al Mawali for Al Mohamediya Racing with Hasan Al Saffar aboard. The Blue Lady, trained by Smith for M and E Racing with Luciano Emanuel Cabrera in the saddle, finished half a length back in third. Sinatra, Raheel, Members Only, Riyaheen, Authority, Blues Queen, Messayil and Uptoyouordowntome completed the field.
Anchorman Cup (US$80,000):
1. Dain Ma Nut In (T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore / J: Lewis Edmunds)
2. Vestigia (T: Jaber Ramadhan / J: Billy Loughnane)
3. Salamanca Lad (T: Jaber Ramadhan / J: Connor Beasley)
Hawar Cup (US$80,000):
1. Up The Pace (T: Daniel & Claire Kubler / J: Tom Marquand)
2. Comanche Falls (T: Michael Dods / J: Connor Beasley)
3. Spangled Mac (T: George Boughey / J: Billy Loughnane)
Bahrain Oaks (US$20,000):
1. Wanisa (T: Haider Ebrahim / J: Benoit De La Sayette)
2. Intelligence (T: Daniel & Claire Kubler / J: Tom Marquand)
3. Evergreen (T: Daniel & Claire Kubler / J: Ebrahim Nader)
Investcorp Cup (US$12,000):
1. Nepal (T: George Scott / J: Rosie Jessop)
2. Refreshment (T: Jaber Ramadhan / J: Ray Dawson)
3. Knight Of Honour (T: Ali Abdulmajeed / J: Neil Callan)
Gulf Air Cup (US$8,000):
1. Al Ma'anagy (T: Yousif Taher / J: Qais Al Busaidi)
2. Mlolshan (T: Yousif Alboainain / J: Adnan Jaffar)
3. Kuheilan Aafas (T: Yousif Alboainain / J: Marcialis Jaures)
Lexus Cup (US$8,000):
1. Hattaab (T: Abdulla Kuwaiti / J: Lewis Edmunds)
2. Al Yateem (T: Haider Ebrahim / J: Benoit De La Sayette)
3. December (T: Ali Abdulmajeed / J: Jason Hart)
Grand Seiko Cup (US$8,000):
1. Ezz Albahrain (T: Ahmed Al Sadah / J: Ebrahim Nader)
2. Call Of Duty (T: Paul Smith / J: Lee Newman)
3. Asaaff (T: Abdulla Kuwaiti / J: Lewis Edmunds)
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (US$8,000):
1. Almonaady (T: Osama Hashim / J: Ebrahim Nader)
2. Anwaar (T: Ali Abdulmajeed / J: Neil Callan)
3. Gimmie Shelter (T: Jaber Ramadhan / J: Connor Beasley)
RACE 9 (US$8,000):
1. The Ghost Ship (T: Jaffar Marzooq / J: Sandro Paiva)
2. Alhadba (T: Abbas Al Mawali / J: Hasan Al Saffar)
3. The Blue Lady (T: Paul Smith / J: Luciano Emanuel Cabrera)