MANAMA: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa today deputised HM the King’s Personal Representative to attend His Majesty King Hamad’s Horse Racing Cup Festival, organised by the Shaikh Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Sakhir.
Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, Deputy Chairman of the High Committee of the Shaikh Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa, ministers, senior officials, diplomatic corps and scores of horse racing fans attended.
The first race was for Al Methaq Cup for imported horses, carrying a cash prize of BD2,000 and run over 1,600 metres, was won by Empiricist, owned by Ghalya Raed Ali Abdulla, trained by Taleb Ali and ridden by Declan Cannon.
The second race was for the Bahrain Gold Cup for imported horses which carries a cash prize of BD7,600 and run over 2,400 metres, was won by Azizi, owned by Mohammed Juma Mohammed Hassan, trained by Sami Saloom and ridden by Kieren Fox.
Obeyan 1335, owned by A Wasmiya, trained by Abdulla Kuwaiti and ridden by Gerald Avranche, clinched the first place of His Majesty King Hamad Cup for Arabian horses which carries a cash prize of BD7,000 and run over 1,600 metres.
The fourth and biggest race of the day was for His Majesty King Hamad Cup for locally bred horses which carries a cash prize of BD10,000 and run over 2,400 metres.
Hashaar, owned by Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Gerald Avranche, was the winner of the race.
HM the King’s Personal Representative Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa presented the winners with trophies.