Cosmopolitan 14-runner field set to line up for kingdom’s most prestigious race on November 17
Bahrain: With travel plans now in place, the likely line-up for this year’s running of the Bahrain International Trophy looks set to be the strongest in the race’s five-year history. The field includes participants from five different countries, with six of the intended runners already winners of either G1 or G2 races.
The 2023 running of the $1m Bahrain International Trophy takes place on Friday week [Nov 17] at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club at Sakhir. This year’s renewal is more valuable than ever following an increase in the race’s value to $1m and the race’s status being upgraded to G2 level.
Among the contingent of British trained horses coming to Bahrain is Israr. Trained by tghe father-and-son combination of John & Thady Gosden, the four-year-old colt runs in the colours of Shadwell Estate, who were recently crowned champion owners in Britain.
Israr’s contribution to Shadwell’s championship winning season included victory in the G2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes (sponsored by the Kingdom of Bahrain) at Newmarket in July, when he beat the former Derby winner, Adayar.
Connections are hoping to upset another highly rated Godolphin representative in Bahrain when they take on three-time G1 winner, Nation’s Pride.
“We are confident Israr will run a really nice race over the mile and a quarter,” said John Gosden. “It’s a very competitive field but so it should be. It’s an exciting, lovely race, well timed in the calendar and the prize money has been increased so that makes it even more attractive. We’ve been second in it, so we are itching to win it one day.”
Commenting on Shadwell’s season, Gosden added: “They have had an incredibly successful year. It is huge achievement on the part of everyone at Shadwell to be leading owner and a lot of that success has been down to the older, homebred horses, such as Israr.
“Since Sheikh Hamdan died, his daughter Sheikha Hissa has taken hold of the operation and her father would be extremely proud of her.”
Also set to fly to Bahrain from the UK are two horses that have shown marked progression throughout the European season. Spirit Dancer, co-owned and bred by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, booked his ticket with victory in the G3 Strensall Stakes at York and he will be joined on the flight by Cambridgeshire winner Astro King.
Travelling from Ireland will be Above The Curve (Joseph O’Brien), Point Lonsdale (Aidan O’Brien) and Layfayette (Noel Meade), while France is set to be represented by Birr Castle (Andre Fabre) and French 2000 Guineas winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Andreas Schutz).
As well as Nation’s Pride, the Godolphin challenge will be supplemented by two Saeed Bin Suroor-trained horses, the 2022 Bahrain International Trophy winner Dubai Future, and the G1-placed Real World. Nation’s Pride’s trainer, Charlie Appleby is also set to saddle recent Darley Stakes winner Highland Avenue.
The 14-runner field is set to include two locally based horses in Calif and Qaader, both trained by the formidable Fawzi Nass.
“We are very much looking forward to this year’s running of the Bahrain International Trophy,” said Bahrain Turf Club CEO Yusuf Buheji. “The race has attracted a very competitive field, including horses representing a wide range of countries and connections.
“The Bahrain Turf Club is very grateful for the continued support shown by some of the biggest owners in world horse racing, including Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, who won the race last year. Racing in Bahrain continues to grow thanks to the enthusiasm and passion of owners and we wish all our participants the best of luck for this year’s race.”
• Visit the Bahrain Turf Club website
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