Bahrain Trophy on Upswing, Draws Tough Internationals

The Bahrain International Trophy (G3) celebrates its third running Nov. 19 not only with new global recognition but also with the promise of a major role in the continuing development of Middle Eastern racing.

To go with all that, the 1 1/4-mile event on the Sakhir Racecourse turf drew impressive international representation including four Godolphin runners from three trainers.

"It is an incredibly exciting field that has been assembled for the third running of the group 3 Bahrain International Trophy," Shaikh Salman bin Rashed al Khalifa, executive director of the Rashid Equestrian & Horse Racing Club, said during the run-up to the season's signature event. "There are some highly progressive horses in the lineup with six different countries represented. We are very much looking forward to welcoming participants from all over the world."

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities in October granted international group 3 status to the race and elevated Bahrain racing to Part II of its Blue Book.

Those decisions came on the back of an announcement in the spring that Bahrain is a participant in talks to form closer ties among the region's racing jurisdictions, also including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The goal is to overcome regulatory and logistical barriers to international competition in the region and lure more foreign competition to races such as the Saudi Cup (G1), also newly elevated by the IFHA, and the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).

"With an increasingly attractive racing offering already taking place across the region, we decided as a group that it was time to focus on ways to open up our racing to each other while simultaneously making it more attractive for internationals to come here, facilitating the progression of racing standards across the entire region," Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said at the time of the announcement.

Prince Bandar recently updated that with a prediction of an announcement during the first half of 2022.

The existing regulatory hurdles have not prevented a quality global participation in the third Bahrain International Trophy.

Charlie Appleby, fresh off his Breeders' Cup triumphs at Del Mar, brings both Barney Roy  and Zakouski . Godolphin also has Magny Cours , trained in France by Andre Fabre, and Dubai Future  from Saeed bin Suroor's yard.

Local training bellwether Fawzi Nass, who sent out Simsir  to an upset win in last year's Trophy, is back with three runners acquired recently from overseas and not conceding anything to the raiders.

Emperor of The Sun , recently acquired from Donnacha O'Brien's yard, is likely to try to duplicate Simsir's front-running victory. Lee Newman rode Simsir and is booked to accompany Emperor of The Sun.

"We've only had Emperor of The Sun for a few days," Nass said. "Lee rode him for the first time on Tuesday morning and his feedback was good. He feels and moves well, and Lee will obviously hope to do the same as last year."

The 4-year-old Galileo  colt will need a turnaround from his last effort, an eighth-place finish in the Qatar Prix du Cadran (G1) at ParisLongchamp Oct. 2.

Nass also will saddle Naamoos, a recently gelded 3-year-old son of Wootton Bassett , and Qaader , a 3-year-old Night of Thunder  colt. Both formerly were trained by Mark Johnston.

While maintaining confidence befitting his record, Nass was not shy in identifying his most-feared rivals.

"Godolphin have a very strong team over and they'll be hard to beat."

Appleby, in turn, was high on the chances particularly of Barney Roy. The 7-year-old Excelebration  gelding, a group 1 winner in both Dubai and Germany last season, exits a fourth-place finish in the Darley Stakes (G3) at Newmarket in October.

"Our plan was to go for the Bahrain International Trophy with Barney Roy last year, but unfortunately on the back of his success in Germany he met with a setback," Appleby said. "We've been purposefully working back from the Bahrain International as it's a race which is great to be part of. I think the style of the race will suit him in Bahrain. It's a slick track there and the tight turns will suit him. If he goes there with his old A-game, he's going to be a big player."

The field also includes 8-year-old Lord Glitters  from David O'Meara's yard, the Charlie Hills-trained Pogo , Victory Chime , conditioned by Ralph Beckett, and Cadillac  from Jessica Harrington's yard.

There are two 3-year-old fillies in the 14-horse field—Fev Rover , trained by Richard Fahey, and Penja , for trainer Andreas Suborics.