The Bahrain International Trophy returns horse racing on the island nation’s to the sport’s shop window on Friday [Nov 18] when Sakhir racecourse will host its richest-ever running of the G3 contest.
Raised in value to £600,000 ($714,000) for its fourth edition, the mile-and -a-quarter turf event has attracted ten runners, two representing Bahraini stables and eight from overseas.
They include four owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, of which one, Royal Fleet, will be saddled by Charlie Appleby – world #1 trainer on TRC Global Rankings – and ridden by Britain’s champion jockey William Buick, #2 jockey in the TRC Rankings.
Even without dual G3 winner Alflaila, scratched at the start of the week, there are runners from France, Ireland plus a first participant from Scandinavia in King David, trained in Norway by Niels Petersen. The race is set to be watched in up to 165 countries.
Shaikh Salman bin Rashid al Khalifa, the Bahrain Turf Club's regulatory affairs executive director, said: “We have a top-class field with really nice horses participating in the race. We have seen this race progress year after year and we are noticing a stronger field.
“From an exposure and media point of view I think it is really nice to see media companies wanting to come to attend the race. It is a sign that we have a product that is sought after. It’s a great opportunity to showcase the best of what we have to offer.”
Godolphin have been regular supporters of the Bahrain International but so far the first prize has proved elusive. They had to settle for second and third 12 months ago when Lord Glitters defeated Barney Roy and the Andre Fabre-trained Magny Cours, who has returned for a second attempt after scoring last month on the all-weather at Chantilly. The John Gosden-trained Turgenev, also owned by Godolphin, was runner-up in the inaugural contest in 2019.
Royal Fleet has finished out of the first three just once in 11 starts and in September stayed on strongly to win the Bahrain Turf Club Foundation Stakes, a Listed race at Goodwood.
“Everything has gone well with Royal Fleet, who has enjoyed a nice preparation,” commented Appleby. “We know that a mile and a quarter suits him and I feel that the style of racing should play to his strengths as well.
“I’m not too concerned about being drawn in stall 10 because they will go hard down the inside,” added the trainer, speaking on the Godolphin website. ”We will just have to bide our time and hopefully get a clear run up the straight. On what he has achieved so far, he is definitely a player and we have our fingers crossed.”
Saeed Bin Suroor will saddle Royal Ascot winner Dubai Future (Danny Tudhope) and Passion And Glory, ridden by Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote.
“Both of them are doing well and they are rated similarly,” said the trainer. “I can’t see much difference between them. Dubai Future always tries hard. If the pace suits Passion And Glory, I think he also has a good chance. It’s an open race and any horse can win it.”
Insinuendo is a G2 winner who finished third in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes last time out. She will be having her final start as she is to be sold during the new Sceptre session of the Tattersalls December Sale.
“We were meant to come last year but she had a little setback, so we are delighted to take up the invitation this year,” said trainer Willie McCreery. “She seems to love it here, she’s very relaxed and she’s training well.
“I’ve looked at her last three or four runs and she’s had the quickest final furlong of any horse in the race. There’s a good long straight to the track here, so if we can still be in contention turning in, we’ll be laughing.”
French-trained pair Monty and Riocorvo finished one-two in La Coupe, a G3 event over this trip on softish ground in September at ParisLongchamp. The winner was subsequently beaten by multiple G1 hero Addeybb at the same venue; that sort of form that would put him right in the mix, although the ground here will be much faster.
Bahrain’s two representatives are making their debuts in the Kingdom with leading Bahraini trainer Fawzi Nass hoping to follow up Simsir’s success two years ago with ex-Aga Khan-owned Dilawar, picked up for €500,000 ($520,000) at the Arqana Arc sale last month. Frankie Dettori rides.
The other Bahraini-trained horse, Pensiero D’Amore, will be making his first start for trainer Mohammed Hassan since being bought out of the Marco Botti stable.
• Visit the Bahrain Turf Club website
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