A plan first put in action hatched in Newmarket in July of last year came to glorious fruition in Bahrain today as Isle Of Jura completed a remarkable winter campaign with an authoritative victory in the $200,000 King’s Cup.
The King’s Cup, run in honour of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, was Isle Of Jura’s fourth and most valuable victory of his campaign in Bahrain. Running in the colours of Victorious Racing for HH Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, for trainer George Scott and jockey Callum Shepherd, Isle Of Jura won the Listed 2400m race by 2 ¼ lengths from Sovereign Spirit in second and Panning For Gold in third.
Afterwards, an emotional George Scott said of Isle Of Jura’s win in the King’s Cup: “This ranks as the highlight of my career to date, miles ahead of anything else. It’s unbelievable. The King’s Cup is the pinnacle of racing here in Bahrain. What a wonderful horse, he really is a trier.”
Jockey Callum Shepherd has developed an excellent partnership with Isle Of Jura and he added: “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 Shaikh 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.
Although out of luck with their three runners in the King’s Cup, earlier on the card there was a winner for Godolphin when the talented Real World recorded his first victory in over two years. Ridden by Kevin Stott, who was riding his first winner in Bahrain, Real World dominated the closing stages of the $80,000 Al Methaq Mile. Now a seven-year-old, and previously twice runner-up to Baaeed in Group 1 races, Real World showed much of his old dash to win eased down from Wowzers and Mehmento, with market rival and last year’s winner Byline unable to land a blow.
