Bahrain Turf Championships set for third edition of series

It’s the expanding Bahrain Turf Series and it’s George Scott with his 3yo Isle of Jura who’s looking for a championship two-from-two in the Al Dana Cup on Friday.

First-up in Bahrain following wins at Newmarket and Newbury this year, Isle of Jura scored by 1¾ lengths in the first leg of this 2023-24 Bahrain Turf Series in the Al Muharraq Cup of 2000m.

Given a copy-book by 22 year-old rising star Callum Shepard, Isle of Jura raced mid-field, before making ground at the 500m, and when sprinting between runners took the lead at the 100m to win.

Racing in the red and white silks of Victorious Racing, Isle of Jura ran down the Hugo Palm trained Box To Box for second, with last year’s winner Lucander a closing third ridden by Rowan Scott.

In drawing Gate 14 of 16 runners in this Al Dana Cup, and also over 2000m, he’s been given a winner’s weight of 62kg for Callum Sheperd, its now Jason Hart who rides challenger Box To Box.

However, George Scott certainly has a ‘find’ in Isle of Jura, who has won three of his six starts this season, having earlier been a £150,000 buy at the Tattersalls February Sale, from Godolphin.

Unplaced as favourite at his only start at two, he’s bred by Godolphin being a full-brother to Australian dual Group 1 winner Cascadian, being from UAE Oaks winning Cape Cross mare Falls of Lora.

Starting beside Isle of Jura in Gate 13, is the Hugo Palmer trained Box To Box, part owned to former Liverpool and Real Madrid hero Michael Owen, who has twice at Chester earlier this season.

Another not to be dismissed is the ‘effervescent’ EPL supremo Harry Redknapp, who has Moktasaab with trainer Hugo Palmer and it’s John Eagen from Gate 6, unplaced in the Al Muharraq Cup.

Launched in 2021-22, this is the third edition of the 10-race Bahrain Turf Series that’s open to international visitors to compete against domestic horses in the Bahrain Turf Club programme.

With prizemoney growing to US$80,000 per race, the 2022-23 Turf Series attracted 20 European horses with Britain’s Davia O’Meara and Jamie Osborne sharing the Trainers’ honours on points.

Jamie Osborne and owner Garry Allsopp had Inigo Jones take out the Sprint Series in being awarded the Al Dana Cup on the disqualification of the Hasham Al Haddaa trainer winner and second.

David O’Meara won the Distance Series for Al Mohamediya Racing with Nomadic Empire, Andrea Atzeni and Neil Callen had two wins each with George Baker’s Lucander being champion horse.

Also, on Friday the sprinter line-up in the Al Riffa Cup of 1200m with the first-leg Al Manama Cup local winner Dairerin absent, having been a popular winner for local trainer Jaber Ramadham.

However, it’s the local Mohammed Hasan trained 5yo mare Ocean Star who joins the Turf Series, coming off two wins including the Al Khalifa Cup of 1200m, and has drawn Gale 13 of 18 runners.

To be ridden again by Soufiane Saadi and carrying 62kg, or 9st 11lb, she races in the red and black silks of Al-Afro Racing Stable, and was the 2021 Champion 3YO Filly of Bahrain, being by Adaay.

As the Al Manama second placed Squealer is not running, it’s the Eleanora Kennedy owned Warrior Brave who’s fancied being four-length third in the Al Manama for trainer Ross O’Sullivan.

In having had three race wins in Ireland this year, he’s drawn Gate 4 with apprentice Nathan Crosse weighted on 61kg, and was a 100,000 Gns Tattersalls 2021 July Sale buy, sired by Twilight Son.

Michael Owen also backs-up with his Chester specialist Roman Dragon, also for Hugo Palmer and with Kieran Shoemark carrying 57kg he jumps from Gate 9, being by the Dark Angel sire Heeraat.

And not to be outdone it was Sir Alex Ferguson who recently expressed that Spirit Dancer’s win in the $1m Bahrain International Trophy of 2023 ‘gave him the best moment in his racing life.’