The first round of the Russian Breeders’ Cup has kicked off at the Moscow hippodrome where the country’s top jockeys and horses have gathered.

The cup consists of six rounds, each featuring six races, and will run till the end of August. The winners of each individual race will qualify for the final event which will be held on October 4. There they will be joined by the six best runners up from the previous rounds.

The first to book their place in the final was Fata Fler ridden by Vladimir Melehov. He beat Tiffany Royal and Insayt into second and third place respectively.

Fata Fler was joined by Hangarul who won the second race of six.

Race three saw one of the tips for winning this season’s cup, Ready Set Swing, take first after showing some trademark sprinting prowess to hold off Grey Wind.

In Race four, the Russian national football team masseur, Mikhail Nasibov, had a horse running named after the Berezutsky twins, the CSKA and Russia defenders. Perhaps an omen for the national team at Euro 2008, the horse showed well, finishing third.

That race was won by Serebryany Bor after Monomakh was disqualified.

The last two winners completing the days racing were Silk Sky and Brief Floyd.

The next leg of the cup takes place on June 28.