The two-day International Racing Festival resulted in the victory of Turkish horses.

Halis Karataş did not give the return leg to Frankie Dettori...

The International Racing Festival, which started on September 6^th, ended with the races held on Sunday, September 7^th. During the races that lasted for two days, the Turkish horses put out a real show by winning five races. Our successful jockey Halis Karataş won 6 races, three of which were international.

In a resplendent night at Veliefendi Racecourse, the second day started with the free fall parachute jump. In a windy weather, the parachutist that jumped off of a helicopter approximately 500 meters above the ground thrilled the crowd.   

The Heliosphere team, specifically invited from UK for this occasion, was adored by the crowd with their hot air balloon show.  

Shaman Dance Group appearing towards the end of the night capped  the evening with lively dancing.   

Malazgirt Trophy goes to Ayabakan
 

In the International Malazgirt Trophy, 6 three and plus year old  purebred Arabian horses competed. In the 1600 meter turf race, with a prize money of 150.000 $, Şihis Şimşek's purebred AYABAKAN (Özgün-Zafire.15) came first with jockey Halis Karataş by running 1.45.36.  

BRIGHT LIGHT (NL) came 2^nd, QUAOLINA (FR) came 3^rd, and BERKSOY came 4^th.

Istanbul Governor Muammer Güler presented the trophy to Şihis Şimşek, the owner of the winning horse.

A.Serdar Pedükcoşkun, the Secretary General of TJK, presented the plate to Trainer Ümit Bekmezci.

Dr.Ender Aydıner, Accounting Member of TJK, presented the plate to Jockey Halis Karataş.

Yasin Kadri Ekinci, Chairman of TJK, was also present during the Cup Presentation.

Bosphorus Cup ended with the victory of Inspector
 

Another important race of the day was International Bosphorus Cup.

The GRII race was open to three and plus year old thoroughbreds where 7 horses participated.  In the 2400 meter turf race with a prize money of 400.000 $, the winner was the thoroughbred INSPECTOR (Bin Ajwaad-Pandora/Platini (GER), the winner of 2007 Gazi Cup, owned by Hayrullah Doğan, with jockey Halis Karataş by running 2.27.35.

OUT OF CONTROL came 2^nd, DICKENS came 3rd, and BUCCELLATI came 4^th in the race.

The cup was presented to the owner of the winning horse, Hayrullah Doğan by Governor of Istanbul, Muammer Güler.

İnci Özdemir, Chairperson of the Horseowners and Breeders Association of Turkey and Full Member of TJK, presented the plate to Trainer Ümit Bekmezci.

Turgut Koyuncuoğlu, Member of the Discipline Committee of TJK, presented the plate to Jockey Halis Karataş.  

Mircan Fırat, member of the High Commission of Stewards, Yasin Kadri Ekinci, Chairman of TJK, A.Serdar Pedükcoşkun, Secretary General of TJK, Dr. Ender Aydıner, Accounting Member of TJK, Ercan Emre and Esra Atman Özyiğit, Board Members of TJK and singer İlhan Şeşen were also present during the Cup Presentation.  

The thoroughbred Gravitas, a Godolphin stable mate, ridden by world famous jockey Dettori came in only 6^th.

Topkapı Trophy goes to Pressing

The most important race of the International Festival, Topkapı Trophy was won by Gary A. Tanaka's Pressing with jockey Neil Callan.  In the race where the total prize money was $One million 20 thousand and the first received $600,000, Linngari came in 2^nd, Stimulation came in 3^rd and Turkish thoroughbred Kurtiniadis came in 4^th.  

Yasin Ekinci, Chairman of TJK, presented the trophy to Dr. Franco Castelfranchi, President of EFTBA, representing the owner.

Bahadır Gödek, Co-Chair of the Horse owners and Breeders Association of Turkey and Full Member of TJK presented the plate to trainer Michael Jarvis...

Serdar Pedükcoşkun, Secretary General of TJK presented the plate to jockey Neil Callan

Pressing came in 2^nd in last year’s Bosphorus Cup
 

Mircan Fırat, member of the High Commission of Stewards, Dr. Ender Aydıner, Accounting Member of TJK, Osman Çıkıllı, Ercan Emre and Esra Atman Özyiğit, Board Members of TJK were also present at the Trophy Presentation.
 

FASHION TV AMATEUR LADY RIDERS CUP

The winner of the race, held for the second time under the sponsorship of Fashion TV was German rider Nadine Gratz, with Murat İşcen’s thoroughbred Marlin Ekinoks. Paula Flierman came in 2^nd with Eskişehirbeyi, Duygu Fatura Oluk came in 3^rd with Delalım, and Selin Dikencik came in 4^th with Valentin.

After the race, the trophy was presented to the winner of the race, Nadine Gratz, by Demet Sabancı. S.Selman Taşbek, the Chairman of Amateur Riders Association and Full Member of TJK, also presented Nadine Gratz, the winner of the race, with a silver whip. The participating riders received a bouquet of flowers each.