Bangkok Set for Start in Mister D. at Arlington

Sky Bet York Stakes (G2) winner Bangkok  is set to head on his travels for a tilt at the Aug. 14 $600,000 Mister D. Stakes (G1T) (formerly run as the Arlington Million) at Arlington International Racecourse in the United States before possible journeys to Bahrain and Hong Kong later in the year.

The 5-year-old has been a globetrotter for trainer Andrew Balding and owners King Power Racing, having previously raced in Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia as well as picking up valuable prizes in Britain, and he gained a first success at group 2 level when beating Mohaafeth  and Armory  on the Knavesmire last month.

While the possibility of supplementing Bangkok for the Juddmonte International (G1) was raised following his victory at York, he is unlikely to be seen at the Ebor festival and will instead begin an ambitious international campaign for the second half of the year.

He could contest the Bahrain International Trophy in November once again having finished ninth in the £500,000 race last year, before a potential first foray to Hong Kong for the prestigious Hong Kong International Races meeting in December.

His owner's racing manager, Alastair Donald, said: "There aren't many options for him in Europe, so we are going to go for the race in America and he will hopefully also go to Bahrain and Hong Kong later in the year.

"He needs fast ground and in the autumn over here you aren't really going to get that normally. We would need to supplement him for the Juddmonte and that would be a very brave decision to do so."

Donald also spoke of the delight of Bangkok's owners following his York victory, with his previous biggest wins coming in the Bet365 Classic Trial (G3) at Sandown in 2019 and the Betway Easter Classic on All-Weather Championships Finals Day earlier this year.

He added: "He has a great attitude and is in great form. We were very pleased with him to get his group 2 the last day; it was very deserved."