Trainers of leading contenders talk about their chances in Bahrain's $1m feature on Friday [Nov 17]
Bahrain: After leading home a one-two for Godolphin 12 months ago, Dubai Future faces another cosmopolitan line-up as he defends his crown in the Bahrain International Trophy.
Now a G2 event, the $1m showpiece features the strongest field in its five-year history headed by hot favourite Nations Pride. The mount of Britain’s champion jockey William Buick, the three-time G1 winner, t and one of five horses due to carry the Godolphin blue at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Spirit Dancer features in the British team alongside Princess of Wales’s Stakes winner Israr and Cambridgeshire hero Astro King. A strong Irish trio includes Point Lonsdale and Above The Curve – trained respectively by Aidan O’Brien and son Joseph – while Classic winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi represents France under Arc-winning jockey Cristian Demuro.
Shall we talk about it?
Astro King:“He is going to be our biggest runner outside of Europe, which is incredible. It’s very exciting. It’s great having Bahrain putting on a race like this to attract international contenders and hopefully Astro King can put his best foot forward and do us proud.” Claire Kübler (co-trainer, speaking to Great British Racing International)
Dubai Future:“Dubai Future won this race last year, although this looks a tougher renewal. He has been working well and I have been pleased with his preparation. He has gone well fresh in the past and has a nice draw in stall five. I am looking for another good effort.” Saeed Bin Suroor (trainer)
Highland Avenue:“He took the journey out to Bahrain in his stride and has been training well out there. He has a nice draw in three and lines up on the back of a pleasing win at Newmarket. I feel we have two competitive runners in a very strong edition of the race.” Charlie Appleby (trainer)
Israr: “We are confident Israr will run a really nice race over the mile and a quarter. 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.” Co-trainer John Gosden
Nations Pride: “He is in great shape and we are very happy with him. He’s had a great season already and it was always our intention to head to Bahrain following his win out in Canada. Stall 12 makes things slightly trickier but he is one of the class horses in the race and looks the worthy favourite.” Charlie Appleby (trainer)
Real World: “He showed some very good form in 2022 and looks to be in good order. He is drawn down on the inside in stall one, but I am hoping that he will be able to show his strong turn of foot in the straight.” Saeed Bin Suroor (trainer)
Spirit Dancer:“He’s a very laidback horse and he’s had a great season. The target all season was Bahrain because it’s a million-dollar race and a good opportunity in that trip, track and everything will suit. Bahrain is an up-and-coming racing nation and they’re really, really pushing it. We were third in this race a couple of seasons ago.
“When you go on about international runners, you’ve got to pick the right horse and this horse’s mind is great and I’m sure he’ll probably drive the plane back on the way home because he’s just so laidback. There’s no issues with him at all.” Richard Fahey (trainer, speaking to Great British Racing International)
• Visit the Bahrain Turf Club website and the Great British Racing International website
Royal Ascot dreams: sprint queen Imperatriz back in world top five with eighth G1 win
Bahrain International: Israr bids to cap great season for Shadwell in $1m Trophy
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires