ONE of the biggest days in the Bahrain horse racing calendar today will witness four races, including two for the Crown Prince Cups, at Sakhir.
The total prize money at stake is BD26,400. Apart from the four races, a variety of entertainment programmes have been lined up for the entire family.
Raffle draws will also be held with attractive prizes to be given away. The whole day’s proceedings will be telecast live on Bahrain Sports Channel.
The biggest race of the day is for the Crown Prince Cup for locally bred horses which carries a cash prize of BD9,000 and to be run over 2,000 metres, starting at 4.30pm.
This race has also attracted the biggest field of 16 horses.
But Blue’s Bass Billy, owned by Al Nasseriyeh, trained by Alan Smith and to be ridden by Brett Doyle, looks in best shape to win this race ahead of its nearest challengers Hashaar and Moeen.
Obeyan 1335, owned by Al Wasmiya, trained by Abdulla Kuwaiti and to be ridden by Gerald Avranche, is the favourite to win the Crown Prince cup for Arabian horses which carries a cash prize of BD5,000 and to be run over 1,400 metres, starting at 4.05pm.
Al Saqlawy 1517 and Kuheilaan Al Adiyat 1587 are the second and third favourites respectively.
The race for the Bahrain Oaks, sponsored by Al Muzdaher Farm) for locally bred horses kicks off the day’s action at 3.15pm.
This race carries a cash prize of BD4,000 and to be run over 1,800 metres.
Of the eight horses in the fray, Penelope Pitstop, owned by Al Montasir, trained by Alan Smith and to be ridden by Brett Doyle, is the best bet to win this race while Methary and Filfila are expected to give the favourite a run for its money.
The second richest race of the day is for the Bahrain Silver Cup for imported horses which carries a cash prize of BD8,400 and to be run over 2,000 metres, starting at 3.40pm.
There are 14 horses in the fray but Azizi, owned by Mohammed Juma Mohammed Hasan, trained by Sami Saloom and to be ridden by Kieren Fox, is expected to win this race ahead of its closest challengers Unex el Greco and Rocks Off.