ROP Cup race sees strong competition at Al Wattayah

Muscat: The 15th Royal Oman Police (ROP) Cup Horse Race was held on Wednesday at the Oman Horse Racing Club track in Al Wattayah, organised in cooperation with the Royal Oman Police Cavalry, under the auspices of Brigadier Eng Ali bin Salim al Falahi. The race meeting attracted strong participation from owners, trainers, jockeys and featured a highly competitive programme of seven races, confirming the continued growth and popularity of horse racing in Oman.
The opening race, the 'Al Wattayah Race' for Purebred Arabians over 1,500 metres, was won by Nazeeh, owned by the Royal Cavalry and ridden by Moanis bin Salim al Siyabi, under the supervision of trainer Mohammed bin Salim al Ghanimi.
In the second race, the 'Al Hisn Al Manee’ Race' for Purebred Arabians over 1,500 metres, Fateel claimed first place. The horse is owned by Saif bin Nasser al Maskari, trained by Ahmed bin Khamis al Yazeedi and ridden by Al Mutasim bin Said al Balushi.
The third race, 'Rayat Al Majd', dedicated to locally bred Purebred Arabians over 1,500 metres, saw Badr Abriemerge victorious. The winning horse is owned by Dawood bin Hamoud al Ghassani, trained by Yahya bin Hamad al Busaidy and ridden by Adam bin Talib al Balushi.
In the fourth race, 'Hurras Al Mabadi' for Purebred Arabians over 1,500 metres, SSR Al Barq secured first place for owner Faisal bin Ali al Sunaidy, with jockey Al Mutasim bin Said al Balushi and trainer Hussain bin Ali al Sunaidy.
The fifth race, 'Al Ain Al Sahira' for locally bred Purebred Arabians over 2,000 metres, was won by Hader, owned by the Royal Cavalry and ridden by Al Mutasim bin Said al Balushi, under the guidance of trainer Mohammed bin Issa al Balushi.
Race six, the 'Humat Al Haqq' for Thoroughbreds over 2,000 metres, went to Tahariq, owned by Ammar bin Salim al Maskari, trained by Ahmed bin Khamis al Yazeedi, and ridden by Issa bin Mohammed al Balushi.
AL SHALLI SB CLINCHES ROP CUP
The meeting concluded with the highlight event, the Royal Oman Police Cup Race, for locally bred Purebred Arabians over 2,000 metres, where Al Shalli SB delivered an impressive performance to claim first place. The winning horse is owned by Saad bin Suhail al Makhaini, trained by Badr bin Mohammed al Hajri, and ridden by jockey Mohammed bin Mahmoud al Farsi.
Following the victory, jockey Mohammed bin Mahmoud al Farsi expressed his delight, saying: “Winning the Royal Oman Police Cup is a great honour. The race was highly competitive, but the horse showed tremendous determination and responded perfectly throughout the distance. This victory is the result of teamwork and careful preparation.”
Trainer Badr bin Mohammed al Hajri praised the performance of his horse, noting:
 “We prepared
specifically for this race, and the horse demonstrated strong fitness and discipline. This win reflects the effort put in during training and the continuous support from the owner. Achieving the Royal Oman Police Cup is a proud moment for us.”
The ROP Cup race continues to play a key role in supporting and promoting equestrian sports in the Sultanate, preserving Oman’s rich heritage in horse racing, and strengthening cooperation between the Royal Oman Police and the Oman Horse Racing Club to further enhance the standard of local competitions.