Omani horses shine at second race in Barka

BARKA, OCT 24

The Al Rahba Racecourse in the Wilayat of Barka, Al Batinah South Governorate, hosted the Second Horse Race Meeting on Friday, organised by the Oman Horse Racing Club under the supervision of the Oman Equestrian and Racing Federation. The event featured eight competitive rounds showcasing the finest purebred Arabian and thoroughbred horses, attracting wide participation from local stables and enthusiastic fans.

The competition opened with the first round for purebred Arabian horses, where Ibrez SB, trained by Badr bin Mohammed al Hajri and ridden by Abdulaziz bin Fahad al Balushi, took the win, the runner-up was Najm Ibri, guided by jockey Moanis bin Salem al Siyabi and trainer Mohammed bin Salem al Balushi.

The second round, dedicated to thoroughbred horses, saw Akaram triumph under jockey Motasim bin Said al Balushi and trainer Ahmed bin Khamis al Yazeedi, while Taharq, also trained by Al Yazeedi, finished second with jockey Qais bin Saif al Busaidy.

In the third round for locally bred purebred Arabians, SSR Naseem Barka, ridden by Ahmed bin Mohammed al Siyabi and trained by Abdulaziz bin Salem al Rashidi, claimed first place, followed by Lamie with jockey Moanes al Siyabi and trainer Mahmood bin Khamis al Balushi.

The fourth round produced a strong performance by Al Baz, ridden by Motasim bin Said al Balushi and trained by Ahmed bin Said al Balushi, taking first place, Mohtasham came second with jockey Adam bin Talib al Balushi under trainer Ali bin Salem al Hashmi.

In the fifth round, reserved for Arabian mares, Jillian claimed victory with jockey Hamad bin Amer al Ghanimi and trainer Mohammed bin Issa al Balushi, while Lola de Lagarde, guided by Mazen bin Mubarak al Yahyai and trainer Marwan bin Darwish al Balushi, secured second.

The sixth round for locally bred purebred Arabians saw SH Al Buraq win under Issa bin Mohammed al Balushi and trainer Musa bin Mohammed al Balushi, while Bayan Muscat, trained by Mohammed bin Said al Saeedi, finished second with Adam bin Talib al Balushi.

In the seventh round for thoroughbreds, Royal Touch, ridden by Motasim al Balushi and trained by Hussain bin Ali al Sunaidy, achieved first place, while Aswan, under Moanis al Siyabi and trainer Mohammed bin Habeeb al Balushi, came second.

The highlight of the day was the eighth and final round, known as the Champions Race, for purebred Arabians rated 97, the title went to O Naward, expertly ridden by Mazen bin Mubarak al Yahyai and trained by Marwan bin Darwish al Balushi, capping off an exciting day of racing.

Following the win, jockey Mazen al Yahyai expressed his joy: “It was a challenging race with intense competition until the finish, thanks to the trainer’s guidance and the horse’s great condition, we achieved this well deserved victory”.

Trainer Marwan al Balushi, who led O Naward to triumph, added: “O Naward showed excellent form today. We were confident in his ability and he proved his quality in the Champions’ Race”.

Jockey Motasim al Balushi, who secured two wins in the fourth and seventh rounds, said: “It was a fantastic day, the level of competition was very high, but preparation and teamwork helped us succeed”.

Trainer Murshid bin Said al Balushi, owner of Al Baz, commented: “Al Baz is a promising horse and this win highlights his growing potential for future races”.

The event concluded with strong appreciation from fans and participants, reaffirming Al Rahba Racecourse as a premier venue for Oman’s equestrian sport and a platform that continues to elevate the standards of horse racing in the Sultanate of Oman.

Photos by Asaad al Badri, Mohammed al Balushi