Sovereign Spirit claims Bahrain King’s Cup

‘The locals have dominated’ called the race announcer as Bahrain trained Sovereign Spirit took out the HM The King’s Cup, the most prestigious prize on the Bahrain racing calendar.

Winning jockey Tomas Lukasek did everything right on Sovereign Spirit, being close to the pace in a steadily run race, and go for home early in the straight and keep enough in reserve.

Holding off the late challenge of previous winner Zagato, it was an emotional trainer Jaber Ramadhan who said “I have been waiting twenty years for The King’s Cup and It was not easy.’”

“We are so glad to have the winner on a special day like today, in front of His Majesty, as it was a high-class race and I have respect for all the other trainers, jockeys and horses.”

“It is great to have a good owner to support you, Al-Afoo Racing, and I am very happy for the owner and the team,” with Sovereign Sprit winning by ½ length in 2m 37.71s for the 2400m.

The Dubai based King Of Conquest was 3¾ length third for Godolphin, with international visitors Phantom Flight, fourth, and Military Academy, seventh, both pulling hard in the slow pace.

Run in front of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, it was the first running as international Group 3, worth $200,000 and sponsored by Bapco Energies.

Now the winner of four of his seven career wins in Bahrain, including the Nation Wide Cup, the 5yo bay gelding has been consistent all season, even though seventh in the Neom Turf Cup.

A €75,000 buy the 2021 Arqana October Yearling Sale, he’s a 5yo gelding of top French Derby winning sire La Havre, the family of Group 1 Order of Australia, Iridessa and Santa Barbara.

“Today was going to be Sovereign Spirit’s final run of the season,” said Jaber Ramadhan, “but if another opportunity comes along, we are ready for it, and the Sheema Classic, why not?”

Earlier in the meeting, the grey Goemon took out the listed Al Methaq Mile by three lengths for owner Mohammed Khalid Adbulrahim to claimed his status as Bahrain’s leading Miler.

With jockey Ebrahim Nader replacing injured Alberto Sanna, Goemon was third in the 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh, with this being his first international success and fourth win of the season.

The two-day King’s Cup Carnival began on Thursday, and it was a dare-devil ride by Neil Callan that had Soldier’s Empire score a 1¼ length victory in The International Handicap over Mr Alan.

Trained by Marco Botti for Al Mohamediya Racing, Soldier’s Empire not only took out the $100,000 first prize, but also secured the $40,000 bonus for being first in the Middle-Distance Series.

Having been fourth in the Bahrain Vision Cup, he was a 180,000Gns Tattersalls July Sale buy, by Bated Breath from the stakes winning Dalakhani mare Mireille, the family of Luxembourg.

A race later it was the Fawzi Nass trained Nationwide who claimed a 2 length victory in the sprinters Al Fateh Cup of 1200m, in the hands of Stephane Ladjadj and for owners Victorious.

Although only ninth behind surprise winner Nationwide, ridden by Stephane Ladjadj, the Sprint division went to Roman Dragon, trained by Hugo Palmer for Nick Hughes and Michael Owen.