The 5-year-old gelding, rated 86, was produced late to defeat the Hugo Palmer-conditioned, two-time series pointsgetter Box To Box (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), rated on 92 and giving three kilos to the eventual winner. It was Parlando's first win since carrying William Buick to a debut victory at Leicester back in October 2021. The bay was sold on by his breeder Godolphin for £105,000 at the 2023 Tattersalls Ascot March Sale and was placed four times in as many starts in England ahead of his Bahrain campaign.

Both Parlando and Box To Box ended on 28 points, but the former had the tiebreaker by virtue of his victory Friday.

“I had the ridden the horse once before so I knew him,” Mosse said. “He travelled really nice and I was biding my time, as I knew he would finish well. If you ride him too close to the pace, he will do too much. Today he was relaxed in behind and when I pressed the button, he was ready to answer.”

Added Harvey Williams, assistant to and son of trainer Ian Williams: “We're so happy with that result, really delighted. And to have won the Bahrain Turf Series bonus prize is great news. We will definitely be back next year!”

WATCH: Parlando races away in the Vision 2030 by Beyon handicap

Brazen Bolt (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), trained by John and Sean Quinn, could only manage sixth in the Al Sakhir Cup handicap, but he had amassed an insurmountable lead courtesy of a win and a second-place finish in the first two legs of the sprint series and finished well clear of the remainder on 41 points. Friday's contest up the 1000-metre straight course was taken out by stablemate Jm Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}).

The afternoon's richest affair, the $135,000 Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, was won by a widening four-length margin by the season's most-improved galloper Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). The full-brother to multiple Australian Group 1 winner Cascadian (GB) was adding to his recent success in the Listed Crown Prince's Cup and all things equal, he will make his next start in the Mar. 8 King's Cup.

“That was a flawless performance. Roll on the King's Cup!” said his jockey Callum Shephard.

WATCH: Isle of Jura dominates again in Bahrain

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The bonus is awarded to the leading points scorer in the middle-distance division which is currently the George Scott-trained Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) with 25 points, ahead of old rival Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) on 22 points. However, neither horse is eligible to run in the Vision 2030 race (sponsored by Beyon), the final points-scoring opportunity in the middle-distance division, following rises in their handicap ratings.

Ranked third with 18 points, Box To Box (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) therefore has the potential to leapfrog the two horses above him and secure the bonus if he was to win or finish second in the Vision 2030 race. Likewise, Parlando (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) still has a chance of landing the prize having already amassed 13 points, though only a win would be good enough for him to jump to the top of the standings.

Trainer Hugo Palmer said of Box To Box, “He had five long weeks between his second and third runs and as a consequence of him training on the flat terrain and enjoying the sunshine, he did a little too well in the interim. He definitely needed the run last time out. Indeed, beforehand he was heavier than he has ever been for a race but he's lost all that now and is back to where we want him. Getting him back down to his racing weight and the step back up to 2000m will be in his favour.”

In the sprint division, Brazen Bolt (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) holds an unassailable lead on 40 points heading into the final round and is guaranteed the $40,000 bonus, worth $25,000 to the owners and $15,000 to the trainer.

The feature race on Friday's card is the His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup (sponsored by Bapco Energies) in which Isle Of Jura and Lucander are set to go head-to-head for a fourth time this season. Lucander won the 2023 running of the Shaikh Nasser Cup but has found Isla Of Jura too strong in two of their three previous meetings, latterly in the Listed Crown Prince's Cup earlier this month.

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Charlie Appleby, who won the race in 2023 with Warren Point (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), saddles a leading contender again this year in the shape of the four-year-old Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was last seen running out an emphatic winner of a handicap at Meydan. His vanquished rivals on that occasion included the same owner's Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who will be back in familiar surroundings in Bahrain as he tries to reverse the form in the Crown Prince's Cup. Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, Passion And Glory was second in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy in 2022 before winning the Listed His Majesty The King's Cup the following year.

The British challenge is made up of three horses who will also be familiar to local racegoers having taken part in the Bahrain Turf Series during the winter. The Ian Williams-trained Duc De Kent (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}) has been beaten in his two starts, but Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) have both been among the winners for George Scott and George Baker, respectively. Lucander came out on top by a short head when the pair met most recently, but Isle Of Jura is better off at the weights in the Crown Prince's Cup, leaving Scott optimistic of another bold showing in the familiar colours of His Highness Shaikh Nasser's Victorious Racing.

“Isle Of Jura has not surprised me in terms of how well he has done in Bahrain,” said Scott. “He has really thrived in the conditions and the lovely fast ground was always going to suit him.

“The plan was always to progress from the Bahrain Turf Series to the Cup races and this [2000m] is his distance, so I am very hopeful of a big run. It would mean a great deal to His Highness Shaikh Nasser to win a race as prestigious as the Crown Prince's Cup.”

Rollajam (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) will also sport the silks of Victorious Racing and is one of two runners for leading local trainer Fawzi Nass along with Bahrain Turf Series winner Zagato (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The home defence is completed by Allan Smith's American Flag (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the Jaber Ramadhan-trained Sovereign Spirit (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) on another significant day in the Bahrain racing calendar, with two Bahrain Turf Series races and the Bahrain Derby and Bahrain Oaks also featuring on the card.

The declared runners for the 2024 Crown Prince's Cup can be found here.

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In November, Sir Alex Ferguson scored a memorable win with Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the $1-million G2 Bahrain International Trophy. A pair of owners who also have backgrounds in football, Michael Owen and Harry Redknapp, have runners in one of the first races of the Bahrain Turf Series, the Al Muharraq Cup By Texel Air over 2000 metres on the grass. Trainer Phil McEntee sends out the gelding Moktasaab (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for Redknapp, while Hugo Palmer will saddle Box To Box (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the same race on Owen's behalf.

Running from December to February, the series provides opportunities for internationally trained runners (rated 85-100) to compete against local Bahrain based horses across 10 races. Each race is worth $80,000 with bonus prizes for the horses accumulating most points in the two divisions, sprint and middle distance. For more information on the series, please visit the Bahrain Turf Club website.

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The highest profile race in the kingdom, the race was promoted to Group 2 level by the Asian Pattern Committee recently. It was won in 2022 by Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin.

His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, said, “The Bahrain International Trophy is our showpiece event and its promotion to Group 2 status represents another significant step in growing the Kingdom's standing on the international racing stage.

“We are looking forward to staging the best horseracing event to date and welcoming runners from all over the world to Bahrain.”

The addition of the purse boost for the Bahrain International Trophy is part of the all-round investment programme in the country with will boast record purses for the 2023-24 season. All three Bahraini listed races, the Crown Prince's Cup, the King's Cup and the Al Methaq Mile, have all received purse hikes, as has the 10-race Bahrain Turf Series with each race worth $80,000 (£65,000).

Yusuf Buheji, CEO of the Bahrain Turf Club added, “We are delighted to announce the staging of the first $1-million race in Bahrain, along with increases in the value of all our Pattern races, the Bahrain Turf Series and our wider domestic programme.

“In addition to increases in prize money, we continue to invest in our racing and training facilities, as well as our integrity standards. Through these initiatives, as well as our partnerships and sponsorship portfolio, the aim is to further raise the standard of racing in Bahrain and welcome more international visitors.”

For more information, please visit the BTC website.

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The second of edition of the £50,000 Bahrain Turf Series Bonus was divided between Pot B winner Gary Allsopp Partnership's Inigo Jones (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) for Osborne, and Pot A winner Nomadic Empire (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who races for Al Mohamediya Racing. In total, £303,800 of the £600,000 Bahrain Turf Series was secured by European-trained horses, who won five of the 10-race series. Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), trained by George Baker, scooped £116,044 in prize-money throughout the Bahraini season for owners Nigel Jones and Paul Bowden. A quintet of horses were disqualified from the series due to the presence of harpagoside, a prohibited substance: The Covex Kid (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) (twice), What A Welcome (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Fighter Pilot (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), and Mobaadel (Speightstown), and the Turf Series results and prize-money distribution were amended accordingly.

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At the conclusion of the 10-race series, a total of £182,400 (30.4%) of the £600,000 prize-money available had been won by international horses. The three international winners throughout the span of the series were Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who struck on the undercard on Friday for George Baker; Nomadic Empire (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) for David O'Meara; and King Of Conquest (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who is trained by Charlie Appleby.

His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Chairman of The Bahrain Turf Club, said, “We have welcomed more connections from around the world to The Kingdom of Bahrain this season, with 20 international horses competing in the second year of the Bahrain Turf Series. We have seen some very competitive racing throughout the Turf Series and it's been brilliant to see leading international trainers Charlie Appleby, David O'Meara and George Baker enjoy success in the Kingdom.

“We are looking forward to evolving the Tuf Series further and welcoming International connections back in Bahrain next season.”

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“Get It has been a star for us,” said Baker. “He was unlucky on his first run in Bahrain and I think he bumped into one in Mobaadel (Speightstown) on his most recent start. It was a fantastic run and Andrea [Atzeni] was very keen to get back on him on Friday. We couldn't be happier with how we have him.”

Meanwhile, Hugo Palmer is hopeful for a big run from Box To Box (Ire) in The Vision 2030 Cup. The son of Kodiac (GB) ran a promising race on his Bahraini debut at the start of December, but disappointed next out.

“Despite a wide draw, we're happy with Box To Box,” he said. “We've deliberately given him a good break and we're hoping he can step forward off a lower mark.”

Box To Box is one of eight European runners entered. Other notable contenders include What's The Story (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), Marie's Diamond (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Inigo Jones (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).

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“We hoped stepping up King of Conquest to 9-furlongs would suit him and bring about further improvement which it did,” said Appleby. “The ground was quick enough for him, so it was a brave performance.”

In the second Bahrain Turf Series race of the day, the Hawar Cup, Deep Intrigue (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) bounced back to form. Trained in England by Mark Johnston, his new outfit helmed by Hesham Al Haddad, brought him back after more than a year off to win with young Omani jockey Anas bin Salim Al Siyabi in the irons.

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The 2000-metre listed race has attracted 15 horses, led by  Godolphin runner Warren Point (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won at Kempton in October for trainer Charlie Appleby. George Baker sends Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who won one of the earlier Bahrain Turf Series races, while Roger Fell trainee and Group 3 winner Marie's Diamond (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) completes the internationals.

Both The Anchorman Cup and The Hawar Cup, over 1800 metres and 1200 metres, respectively, have also drawn international entries. Godolphin's King Of Conquest (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is one 16 in The Anchorman Cup. Watchya (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), representing Baker, is aiming to go one better after his first Bahraini start in the sprint feature.

His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Chairman of The Bahrain Turf Club, said, “I would like to thank Howden for their continued support of His Royal Highness The Crown Prince's Cup. The continued advancement of the Kingdom of Bahrain's horse racing sector is highlighted by the support from a renowned international sponsor.

“I would also like to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for Godolphin's ongoing support. The feature of top-quality horses, trained by Britain's Champion trainer Charlie Appleby, in the Bahrain Turf Series and The Crown Prince's Cup, raises the quality of Bahrain's horse racing competitions and highlights the importance of further growing the sector at an international level.”

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