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Trainer A M Smith enjoyed a remarkable evening at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club as his charges swept the board in the feature events, with Membership and Phoenix delivering standout performances under the Sakhir floodlights.
The penultimate meeting of Bahrain's 2024-25 season saw the talented 3YOs claim the two most coveted prizes, cementing Smith's position as the yard to beat heading into tonight's season finale.
Carrying the silks of Al Adiyat Racing with Abdulrahim Jasim aboard, Membership produced a clinical performance to land the Future Stars Sprint Cup over 1,000m. The progressive colt showed blistering early pace to establish a commanding position before holding off the determined challenge of Princess of Monaco by three-quarters of a length.
"He's shown tremendous improvement throughout the season," Smith told the Racing Post. "The way he travels through his races suggests there's more to come, and we're excited about his prospects for next term."
L&L Racing's Princess of Monaco, also from the Smith yard but partnered by Lee Newman, ran with credit in second, while stablemate Cosmic Power (Al Adiyat/Smith/Ebrahim Nader) completed a remarkable 1-2-3 for the handler. Deham (Victorious/Yousif Taher/Abdullah Alkhamis) was a distant fourth.
The Future Stars Champions Cup over 1,600m developed into a procession as Phoenix announced himself as a genuine talent with a devastating display of front-running. The M and E Racing colt, giving Newman his first leg of a double, streaked clear in the straight to score by six-and-a-half lengths from stablemate Evergreen (Al Adiyat/Smith/Nader).
The winner's authoritative performance in the US$21,200 contest marked him as a potential star for connections going forward, with Smith now plotting an ambitious campaign for the 2025-26 season.
Illuminate (Victorious/Smith/Alejandro Brun) filled the third spot, while Mind Your Language (M and E/Smith/Marcialis Jaures) completed the quartet.
While Smith dominated proceedings, trainer Ali Abdulmajeed and jockey Neil Callan combined to interrupt his monopoly as Tartan Chief claimed the REHC Cup. The 6YO gelding, representing Al Mohamediya Racing, displayed tremendous courage to master a strong field in the 2,200m contest for imported horses.
Rollajam (Fawzi Nass/Victorious/Nader) put up a stern challenge but couldn't reel in the determined winner, while Malakye (Al Sadah Syndicate/Mohammed Hasan/Jaures) and Monty Bay (Al Mallah Racing/Abduljaleel Al Mallah/Anas Al Siyabi) completed the frame.
Smith was quickly back in the winner's enclosure when Mediterranean Moon narrowly captured the Bahrain Turf Club Cup under Newman, prevailing by a head from stablemate Silk Road (Al Adiyat/Smith/Nader) in a thrilling finish to the 2,000m contest worth US$7,950. Majarah (Shaikh Isa bin Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa/Abdulla Kuwaiti/Jasim) ran on well for third, with Sabraj (Sayed Nasser Hashem Habib/Samir Dawood/Al Siyabi) back in fourth.
Newman completed a superb treble when steering Call The Wind to victory in the BAS Cup, wearing down Call To Court in the closing stages of the 1,400m event for local breeds. Both horses emerged with credit, with Smith remarkably training the first four home as Black Pearl (Franky Vanhonsebrouck) and Scapegoat (Jasim) filled the minor placings.
The evening had begun with a victory for Al Saqlawy 1874 in the Al Rouda Cup, the Victorious-owned runner providing Taher and Jasim with a welcome success. Obeyan 1893 (Al Wasmiya/Abdulla Kuwaiti/Nader) chased him home, with Kuheilan Weld Umm Zorayr 1838 (Victorious/Taher/Ahmed Maki) and Al Saqlawy 1934 (Victorious/Taher/Alkhamis) next.
Tonight's 30th and final meeting features an eight-race card headlined by the prestigious Owner's Cup, offering US$31,800 in prize money over 2,000m for local breeds.
The Bahrain Gold Cup and Champions Sprint both boast US$26,500 purses, while the Mile Cup and Energies Cup each offer US$13,250 in winnings. The programme is completed by the Prestige Cup, Victory Sprint (US$10,600 each) and Arabian Cup (US$3,975).
With Smith and his rivals set to unleash their strongest squads for the season finale, and entry free to all racing enthusiasts, an evening of high-quality action awaits under the REHC floodlights to bring the curtain down on Bahrain's 2024-25 campaign.