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Isle of Jura ‘Victorious’ In King’s Cup To Complete Bahrain Sweep

Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) found his best stride entering the final 200 metres and ran out a comfortable winner of Friday's $200,000 Listed King's Cup to secure the 'Triple Crown' for Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa's Victorious Racing and trainer George Scott.

Winner of a Bahrain Turf Series race Dec. 8 and second in another three weeks later, Isle of Jura saw his rating rise out of the eligibility range for those valuable handicaps and made his next start in the Listed Crown Prince's Cup Feb. 2. Duly obliging there for a first black-type success, he scooped the $135,000 Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup a fortnight later and was going for the sweep in the King's Cup.

The commonly owned, but Fawzi Nass-trained Rollajam (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), ostensibly a pacemaker for Isle of Jura, bombed the start, but rolled forward with a rush to take up the running and opened a double-digit margin on his rivals down the back. Isle of Jura raced in about fifth position and one off the fence with cover, but still had plenty of ground to make up on the leader turning in. The hulking bay took time to hit top gear, but began to bridge the gap in earnest approaching the final furlong and pulled clear from there as Sovereign Spirit (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Panning for Gold (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) ran on for the minor prizes.

“This ranks as the highlight of my career to date, miles ahead of anything else. It's unbelievable,” the winning trainer commented. “The King's Cup is the pinnacle of racing here in Bahrain. What a wonderful horse, he really is a trier.”

Added jockey Callum Shepherd: “What a magic winter this horse has given us and for it to culminate in this race is huge. He's had to overcome adversity here, being virtually knocked over on the first bend. I'm enormously grateful to His Highness Sheikh Nasser, I am so pleased we could do this for him. It was his ambition to win the three races, the 'Triple Crown', and it takes some doing.

“I'd also like to give enormous credit to Rosie Jessop who's ridden him every day out here and the girls who have looked after him. They have carried out and implemented George's plans to the letter and they have been faultless in doing so.”

Said Jessop, who has jumped aboard Isle of Jura in his work over the course of the last three months: “I am going to miss him dearly. He's been the life and soul of my season this year. I'm just so happy and he's made it a magical time for us.”

Isle of Jura returns to Europe for a pattern campaign over the summer.

The well-related Isle of Jura is out of a daughter of French listed-winning 2002 G1 Pouliches runner-up Firth of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill), whose son Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) led home a Godolphin 1-2 in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. She is also the dam of the stakes-winning and G1 St James's Palace S. second Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}) and Etive (Elusive Quality), a listed winner in Germany. This is also the family of Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), popular winner of the G1 Metropolitan H. at Randwick last September. Falls of Lora is also represented by a 2-year-old Night of Thunder (Ire) colt and a yearling colt by Dubawi.

Real World Back To Winning Ways

It had been a stretch of 12 consecutive outs for Godolphin's classy Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) dating back to his victory in the 2022 G2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan. The 7-year-old earned his first placing since when third to Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup in Qatar Feb. 17 and snapped the skid with an authoritative victory in Friday's $80,000 Listed Al Methaq Mile.

Ridden forward by Kevin Stott, the veteran went to the front with better than 200 metres to travel and proved not for catching from there, defeating Wowzers (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) by a comfortable 2 1/2-length margin.

“Last time Real World ran well in Doha in Qatar, and then he worked very well last week and back at a mile, which is the best trip for him, I was confident he would run well. That was good to see,” said trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

KING'S CUP-Listed, $200,000, Sakhir, 3-8, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:31.50, gd.
1–ISLE OF JURA (GB), 128, g, 4, New Approach (Ire)–Falls of Lora (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). (£150,000 HRA '23 TATMAR). O-Victorious; B-Godolphin; T-George Scott; J-Callum Shepherd; $120,000. Lifetime Record: 10-5-1-0, $287,164. *Full to Cascadian (GB), MG1SW-Aus, G1SP-Fr, $5,925,891; half to Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GISW-Can, SW-Eng, $236,981.
2–Sovereign Spirit (GB), 125, g, 4, Le Havre (Ire)–Shutka (Fr), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€75,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT; 40,000gns HRA '23 TATAUT). O-Al-Afoo Racing; B-J P Dubois; T-Jaber Ramadhan; J-Soufiane Saadi; $40,000.
3–Panning for Gold (Ire), 125, g, 4, Galileo Gold (GB)–Sweet Temptation (Ire), by Amadeus Wolf (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€18,000 Ylg '21 GOFOCT; £115,000 2yo '22 GOFAPR; 85,000gns HRA '23 TATAUT). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-Rossenarra Bloodstock Ltd; T-Fawzi Nass; J-Neil Callan; $20,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1HF, NO.
Click for the Bahrain Turf Club chart.

AL METHAQ MILE-Listed, $80,000, Sakhir, 3-8, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34.30, gd.
1–REAL WORLD (IRE), 126, g, 7, Dark Angel (Ire)–Nafura (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin; T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Kevin Stott; $48,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-UAE at 7-9.5f, GSW & MG1SP-Eng, GSW-Fr & UAE, 23-7-3-3, $896,845. *1/2 to Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Eng, $123,978.
2–Wowzers (GB), 126, g, 5, Kodiac (GB)–Vallado (Ire), by Clodovil (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (65,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATNOV; 110,000gns HRA '22 TATAUT). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-Wood Hall Stud; T-Fawzi Nass; J-Hector Crouch; $16,000.
3–Mehmento (Ire), 126, g, 6, Mehmas (Ire)–Invincible Me (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (£14,000 RNA 2yo '20 TATJUL; 23,000gns HRA '22 TATFEB; 45,000gns HRA '22 TATJUL). O-Al-Afoo Racing; B-Tally-Ho Stud; T-Mohammed Hasan; J-Soufiane Saadi; $8,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, HF.
Click for the Bahrain Turf Club chart.

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George Scott Eyes More Big-Race Riches In Bahrain With Isle Of Jura

Trainer George Scott has his eye on more big-race riches in Bahrain with Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) a leading player for the $200,000 Listed King's Cup on Friday.

Isle Of Jura has been a revelation in Bahrain over the winter. He has won three of his four starts there, including the prestigious Crown Prince's Cup, and was impressive when cruising to victory on his most recent run in the HH Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup.

Regular rider Callum Shepherd has described Isle Of Jura as the best middle-distance horse he has ever ridden and says he's looking forward to getting back aboard the rapid improver.

He said, “Isle Of Jura is the best middle-distance horse I've ridden and he's got the potential to improve further. The King's Cup will be his toughest task to date and the Godolphin horses will provide a different kind of opposition, they clearly mean business, but I think our horse remains the one to beat.

“He has grown up noticeably while he has been in Bahrain. He's now so relaxed in a race, he really enjoys the quicker ground and he's got this high-level of raw ability that allows him to travel so well into his races and he finishes them off so well too.

“Once his handicap rating ruled him out of the Bahrain Turf Series, the King's Cup became the target. And then after he won the Crown Prince's Cup, the possibility arose of winning the 'Triple Crown'. His Highness Shaikh Nasser was keen to have a go and it would be magic if he could complete the hat-trick in the King's Cup.”

Shepherd has felt the benefits of success in Bahrain back home in the UK, adding, “I have been surprised by how much attention the wins in Bahrain have received. Isle of Jura has become a flag-bearer for George [Scott] and myself this winter and it has been a real positive for us and I think he can be highly competitive in Group races back in Europe this summer.”

The opposition to Isle Of Jura includes the 2023 King's Cup winner Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, and two other Godolphin-owned runners trained by Charlie Appleby in Dhahabi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and King Of Conquest (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

The fifth international horse in the field is the wonderfully consistent Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) for trainer George Baker, while the home team is led by Goemon (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and in-form Sovereign Spirit (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}).

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Isle of Jura Miles Best In Crown Prince’s Cup

Already a winner of one of the valuable handicaps that make up the Bahrain Turf Series back on Dec. 8, Victorious Racing's Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) negotiated the hike into black-type company with aplomb, winning Friday's $150,000 Listed Crown Prince's Cup with a fair bit of authority.

Immediately dropped out to the tail, Isle of Jura was given a quiet ride by Callum Shepherd, as the commonly owned Rollajam (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) galloped them along in advance of American Flag (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The pacemaker had run his race fully 600 metres from home, as American Flag inherited the lead under a full head of steam entering the straight. But Isle of Jura worked his way into the clear and found plenty inside the final furlong before stretching away to win for the first time at stakes level. Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who defeated Isle of Jura by a nose in another Bahrain Turf Series race over course and distance Dec. 29, finished third. The Godolphin team of Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}, Charlie Appleby) and local King's Cup hero Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}, Saeed bin Suroor) were never dangerous, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.

“I just love the way he has grown up since he's been here, he now relaxes very well and he'll give himself every chance of getting further,” the winning jockey commented. “Being over here, it's really made a man of him.

“This horse means a great deal to George and I. We have always taken this horse very seriously and for him to do that in front of his owners on home soil is really special, we're delighted.”

Added Scott: “He's a lovely horse and he's clearly improving. He's bred to be a good horse and the sky is the limit with him, although we will just enjoy today first. It's well documented that [Victorious principle] His Highness Shaikh Nasser has been a huge supporter of mine and to repay him in this way is so exciting.”

Isle of Jura began his career for his breeder and Appleby, finishing unplaced in a Wolverhampton novice in November 2022 before changing hands for 150,000gns at last year's Tattersalls Ascot March Sale. For this trainer, the bay was victorious in handicap company at Newbury July 21 and eight days later at Newmarket.

The well-related Isle of Jura, a 62nd worldwide black-type winner for his sire, is out of a daughter of French listed-winning 2002 G1 Pouliches runner-up Firth of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill), whose son Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) led home a Godolphin 1-2 in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. She is also the dam of the stakes-winning and G1 St James's Palace S. second Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}) and Etive (Elusive Quality), a listed winner in Germany. This is also the family of Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), popular winner of the G1 Metropolitan H. at Randwick last September. Falls of Lora is also represented by a 2-year-old Night of Thunder (Ire) colt and a yearling colt by Dubawi.

International raiders stole the show in the 1200-metre The Hawar Cup, as the Michael Owen co-owned and Hugo Palmer-trained Roman Dragon (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) beat out Brazen Bolt (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) from the barn of John and Sean Quinn by a half-length.

“We're absolutely delighted,” said the former England striker, who campaigns the 5-year-old with Nick Hughes. “He has got speed to burn, but we often think he's better round a turning track than a straight track, so today is a lovely surprise. We thought beforehand Box To Box (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) would be in the first three and this horse would be in the last three, but it happened the other way round!”

Box To Box was down the field in the Anchorman Cup, the afternoon's other BTS event over 1800m, a race won by former local champion Ecosystem (Ire) (Al Rifai {Ire}).

Owen continued: “Me and Nick own the horse; I bred him and we've owned him all his life. It's my first time here and I am really enjoying it. My old boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, stood here not so long ago having won the big race, the Bahrain International Trophy [with Spirit Dancer {GB}], so it's clearly a lucky spot.”

CROWN PRINCE'S CUP SPONSORED BY CEBARCO-Listed, $150,000, Sakhir (Bahrain), 2-2, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:03.01, gd/fm.
1–ISLE OF JURA (GB), 126, g, 4, New Approach (Ire)–Falls of Lora (Ire) (GSW-UAE, SW-Eng, $246,417), by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (£150,000 HRA '23 TATMAR). O-Victorious; B-Godolphin; T-George Scott; J-Callum Shepherd; $90,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-1-0, $167,164. *Full to Cascadian (GB), MG1SW-Aus, G1SP-Fr, $5,925,891; half to Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GISW-Can, SW-Eng, $236,981.
2–American Flag (Ire), 126, g, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Sequester (GB), by Selkirk. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (125,000gns HRA '22 TATAUT). O-Al Adiyat Racing; B-Bjorn Nielsen; T-Allan Smith; J-Gerald Mosse. $30,000.
3–Lucander (Ire), 126, g, 7, Footstepsinthesand (GB)–Lady Sefton (Ire), by Oratorio (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€26,000 Wlg '17 GOFNOV; 28,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Nigel Jones & Paul Bowden; B-Mr John Connolly; T-George Baker; J-Pat Cosgrave. $18,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, HF, 1.
Also Ran: Zagato (GB), Local Dynasty (Ire), Passion And Glory (Ire), Sovereign Spirit (GB), Duc de Kent (Fr), Rollajam (Ire). Click for the Bahrain Turf Club result.

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