*** ----> Van Halen lifts Opening Day Cup | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Van Halen lifts Opening Day Cup

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Van Halen won the feature race yesterday to lift the Late HH Shaikh Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa (Opening Day Cup) Division II at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.

The nine-race meeting was the first of the 2022/2023 season at REHC. Ridden by Paul Hanagan and trained by AM Smith for Al Adiyat Racing, Van Halen triumphed in the eight-furlong, BD5,000 event in a time of one minute 38.264 seconds.

The four-year-old colt finished four-and-a-half lengths ahead of runner-up Amwaj, ridden by Robert Tart, trained by Haider Ebrahim and owned by MKAR Racing, while Miblish came third for Charles Perkins, Yousif Taher and Al Nuwayef Racing.

Meanwhile, Midhaal, ridden by Jerome Moutard, won the Late HH Shaikh Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa (Opening Day Cup) Division I race for Abdulla Kuwaiti and Al Nuwayef Racing.

The four-year-old colt completed the eight-furlong race with a BD5,000 total prize in 1:38.493.

Black Shadow was second for Ethan Jones, AM Smith and M and E Racing while Sehool came third for Ebrahim Nader, Haider Ebrahim and HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa. Six other races from yesterday’s card were for Late HH Shaikh Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa Cups.

In the seventh event, Byline clinched first place with Paul Hanagan in the saddle over eight-furlongs.

The five-yearold gelding, trained by AM Smith and owned by Al Adiyat Racing, won in 1:35.988 to take the lion’s share of the BD5,000 prize.

Maystar for Al Afoo Racing and Bond’s Boy for Al Mohamediya Racing were second and third.

In race six, held over a six-furlong straight, Ocean Star ridden by Jeffrey Syster won for Mohammed Hasan and Al Afoo Racing in 1:13.033.

The fouryear-old filly triumphed in the BD2,000 event ahead of Riffaa Wonder, competing for Redha Monfaredi Racing, and Ibn Arabi for Al Afoo Racing.

In the fifth race of the day, held over seven furlongs with a BD2,000 total prize, Shebil Aljazira triumphed for Liam Keniry, Osama Hashim and Al Mohamediya Racing.

The sevenyear-old gelding secured first place in 1:24.075, narrowly beating Breath of Air of Al Adiyat Racing and Jamais Assez of Al Mallah Syndicate.

In race three, held over nine furlongs with a BD2,000 prize, Tazmeen triumphed, saddled by Salem Alajmi, in 1:55.965.

The five-year-old mare is trained by Haider Ebrahim and was competing for HH Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Aryaaf for Al Afoo Racing and Shaddad for Al Bastaki Racing completed the top three.

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Race two was won by Khazzma, ridden by Ebrahim Nader.

The Haider Ebrahim-trained, HH Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa-owned four-year-old filly completed the five-furlong event with a BD2,000 prize in 1:00.805.

Toulouse Le Plot of Victorious and Dirab of Ras Rumman Syndicate came second and third.

In race one, held over five furlongs with a BD2,000 prize, Musannan 1811 won for Ebrahim Nader, Abdulla Kuwaiti and Al Wasmiya.

The five-year-old triumphed in the WAHO race with a time of 1:13.055, with Al Saqlawy 1807 for Al Riffa and Al Krush 1786 for Al Roudha following.

Yesterday’s fourth race was for imported horses, held over 10 furlongs with a BD2,000 prize.

Master Bambu, saddled by Edinson Rodriguez, triumphed in 2:07.296.

The five-year-old gelding won ahead of Taqareer for Al Afoo Racing and Malakye for Al Jasmi Stable.