The first Bahrain Turf Series race on the day, The Hawar Cup, saw a thrilling finish between Roman River and Dark Shadow. The two horses fought it out over the final metres of the 1200m straight course with Roman River just getting the better of Dark Shadow by a nose in a photo finish. Jockeys Edinson Rodriguez and Neil Callan, both previous Bahrain Turf Series winners this season, were neck and neck in the final stages of the race with Rodriguez timing his mount to get the better of his 14 rivals right at the line.

Allan Smith, delighted to train another Bahrain Turf Series winner with Roman River making it three wins in the series, credited the horse being back to full fitness as the contributing factor to success today. Smith said: “It’s great for the stable and of course Edinson Rodriguez. He’s come over from Uruguay and it’s his second season in Bahrain, he’s a good jockey. We’ve had a niggly little problem with Roman River and it has taken him a bit of time to get to full fitness.”

On future plans for Roman River he added: “There will probably be another race for him before the end of the season on King’s Cup day, but he’s produced a good run today and we’re delighted.”

The second Bahrain Turf Series race on the card went to Classical Wave in The Anchorman Cup run over 1800m. This success secured a fifth Bahrain Turf Series win for trainer Hesham Al Haddad, who also trained the runner up Zagato. Brains, trained by Jamie Osbourne, ran a super race finishing three quarters of a length behind for third place.

This was Classical Wave’s third run in the Kingdom and he has taken a step forward following his last appearance. Once the gap appeared Classical Wave ran down his rivals on the inside rail in the final stages of the race under David Egan.

Egan following another big race win and a third Bahrain Turf Series success said: “We had a lovely run around, I thought Zagato was the horse to beat so we tracked him through the field and caught him late. He’s a horse who has taken a bit of time to acclimatise to Bahrain so he hasn’t been as forward as some of our other runners, we’ve been patient with him though and reaped the rewards today. The attitude he showed to win was mightily impressive.”

On the competitive Bahrain Turf Series races and his association with the Fawzi Nass and Hesham Al Haddad training operation, he added: “It’s vital to be part of such a great team, but Fawzi and Hesham also have the best horses in Bahrain. I think people know now that when it comes to the Bahrain Turf Series they have to bring their best horses over to take on the locals because they’re determined to keep these races in Bahrain.”

Final Finishing Positions:

Hawar Cup, 6f

1. Roman River

2. Dark Shadow

3. Graphite Storm

4. Kinks

5. Natural Path

6. Wonder Elzaam

7. Fighter Pilot

8. Jack The Truth

9. Deep Intrigue

10. Four Wheel Drive

11. Laieth

12. Ibn Arabi

13. Peerless

14. Aleko

15. Riffaa Wonder

Anchorman Cup, 9f

1. Classical Wave

2. Zagato

3. Brains

4. Wait Forever

5. Arqoob

6. Ahdab

7. Zymyran

8. Magical Wish

9. Bond’s Boy

10. Zezenia

11. Baronial Pride

12. Giustino

13. Howzer Black

Download interview with Allan Smith, Hesham Al Haddad and David Egan: https://we.tl/t-9cxXoaxE4j