BRITISH MARK IN ISTANBUL

The International Racing Festival that kicked off Thursday night at Ýstanbul Veliefendi Racecourse continued on Friday with Topkapý Trophy, Bosphorus Cup and Malazgirt Trophy. British trained horses won all four International Thorughbred Races in the       2- day International Racing Festival made their mark at Veliefendi Racecourse.

Gary Tanaka’s PRESSING claimed his second victory in the € 720,000 prized International Topkapý Trophy after a big fight in the last 200 meters with Andrew Balding trained DREAM EATER.

Pressing took the lead after the last bend under Neil Callan, and he geared up and took the difference to 1,5 lengths, while Neil Callan was expecting an easy win, DREAM EATER came strong from the inside and gave hard time to PRESSING, but 2008 Topkapý Trophy winner was not eager to give up, and passed the finish line before with a head difference.

In the cup ceromony Neil Callan who won The Topkapý Trophy two times in a row with PRESSING said;

 “I have to admit that I didn’t expect such strong challenge from DREAM EATER but PRESSING didn’t put his head down even for a bit and we deservedly win. PRESSING loves the firm track here and also the long straight, words are not enough to explain how i feel, I am really honored to win this great race twice and definitely want to be back to Ýstanbul soon.    

Michael Channon’s Halicarnassus was the other British winner of the day, in The International Bosphorus Cup which was ran on a mile and half.  2008 Gazi Derby winner PAN RIVER took the lead in the last 400 and made a 2 length difference, ANNOSH tried to find his way from inside and German SASSOALORO was pushing hard while HALICARNASSUS came too strong from the outside with a fascinating sprint under Alan Munro.

Munro couldn’t find a good path until the last 400 hundred but once he did, he drove Halicarnassus directly to the leaders with an unstoppable sprint and made Michael Channon smile again after EVA’S REQUEST win yesterday under alan Munro in the G2 France Galop Ýstanbul Trophy. Channon’s total winnings in 2 races summed up to €450,000.

Munro was happy after the race saying “ This 2 days has been great for me, it was not the best year for me but these two wins made me feel fantastic.” 

The only Turkish Victory of The International racing Festival came in the Malazgirt Trophy for Purebred Arabians where TURBO didn’t give any chance to Sheikh Al Thani’s GENERAL and Hamdan al Maktoum’s NO RISK AL MAURY.