Ed Marnane
First run in 2019, the $1m Bahrain International Trophy has been benefit for Yorkshire trainers in recent years, thanks to back-to-back victories of Richard Fahey’s Spirit Dancer 12 months ago and Lord Glitters, trained by David O’Meara, four years ago.
In this year’s renewal on Friday, Yorkshire-based trainer Karl Burke saddles Royal Champion and has booked James Doyle to ride the gelding, replacing regular rider Clifford Lee who is side-lined after a motorbike accident.
Owned and bred by Sheikh Obaid Al Maktoum, Royal Champion has thrived since joining Burke after a short spell based in Australia, winning three of his six races and producing arguably a career-high when third behind Delacroix in the Irish Champion Stakes. By Shamardal, he will be suited by the sound surface at Sakhir racecourse and holds leading claims.
Military Order, representing Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, demands respect under William Buick. He brings some decent British form to the race having been narrowly beaten in the Winter Hill Stakes and Rose of Lancaster Stakes, both Group 3 races.
The form of his second to Silawi at Windsor was given a boost after the winner went on to land the Canadian International, Grade 1.
Godolphin has enjoyed success in the Bahrain International Trophy, winning the 2022 renewal with Dubai Future, trained by Saeed bin Suroor.
Ralph Beckett’s smart Pride Of Arras, winner of the Dante Stakes and Great Voltigeur, is one of the top three-year-olds in Britain and is an interesting runner after connections paid up $20,000 to supplement him.
He can go well fresh, so I have no fears returning from a three-month break. This lightly raced son of New Bay possesses a sharp turn of foot and in stellar line-up he is one to consider getting 1.5kg from his seven rivals under regular rider Rossa Ryan.
Lion’s Pride carries the hopes of John and Thady Gosden. Impressive winner of the Godolphin Stakes (Listed) in late September, he will be seeking to give the Gosdens their first victory having trained the runner-up in the Bahrain International Trophy on four occasions from six runnings of the race, most recently with Lead Artist, who finished second to Spirit Dancer in 2024. The step back to 2000m at Group 2 level suggests he may be vulnerable.
Galen, the sole Irish challenger, is fitted with a first-time visor and trainer Joseph O’Brien will be hoping the application of headgear can provide Galen with his first success at Group 2 level. He has assistance of the talented young Irish rider Dylan Browne McMonagle, recently crowned Irish champion who steered Ethical Diamond to a shock victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf earlier in the month.
Multiple French champion trainer Andre Fabre has booked Maxine Guyon to ride Bright Picture, winner of five of his eight races. He arrives in Bahrain a very fresh horse, having missed all the year until returning with a victory in a minor event Clairefontaine in August.
He wasn’t beaten far in the Prix Dollar at Longchamp on Prix de l’Arc weekend. He has a smart strike-rate and is open to further progress on just his ninth career start.
Fawzi Nass-trained Calif, third last year, is the only locally trained horse in the field. He will appreciate being back on quick ground having failed to make an impression in two runs on soft ground in Europe, the latest in Group 1 company. He cannot be ruled out of giving Nass his second Bahrain International Trophy, five years after Simsir caused a big shock when making all under an enterprising ride.
BEST BET:
Race 6: 1 Ava Go Joe
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 1 Bright Picture
BEST SWINGER
Race 8: 8 Pride Of Arras and 1 Bright Picture
JACKPOT
(Races 5-8)
R36
Leg 1: 2, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 4: 1, 7, 8