Bahrain

A field of 12 was declared Sunday for the fourth running of the £600,000 G3 Bahrain International Trophy to be run over the 2000 metres Friday, Nov. 19, at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club. Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) was beaten less than one length into third behind the since-retired Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) in last year's main event, and the US-bred galloper could be one of as many of four entrants this time around. The seven-year-old was victorious in the G3 Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud in 2021, but was...

The Bahrain Turf Club has announced an increase in purse money to the tune of 20% for the 2022 Bahrain International Trophy and the Bahrain Turf Series. That means that the total prize fund for the G3 Bahrain International Trophy will rise to £600,000 for 2022. Along with that, the 10 Bahrain Turf Series races will be run for £60,000 apiece. First run in 2019 as a conditions race, the Bahrain International Trophy was upgraded to Group 3 status last year, with Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) edging out Barney Roy...

Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase was staged over 14 furlongs, but it took a pixel study for the judge to call it as TDN Rising Star Eldar Eldarov (GB) inched out Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) to continue the fine week for Dubawi (Ire). KHK Racing's unbeaten colt had launched his season with a win over 10 furlongs on Newcastle's Tapeta May 24, but Roger Varian had plumped for this staying test of all the options here and ultimately was fully justified as the £480,000 Arqana Breeze Up graduate needed every yard...

Ace Rothstein (More Than Ready) is one of 12 horses signed on in Friday's Listed HRH The Crown Prince's Cup, sponsored by Howden. The Michael Bell runner has won three times, including over the Sakhir turf course in a 1800-metre local Group 2, the Al Adiyat Racing Cup, on Jan. 7. With that effort, he defeated the reopposing duo of Medal Winner (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) and Macaque (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). Ridden by Charlie Bishop in that effort, Bell has engaged the services of 2021 Longines World's Best...

We have grown accustomed to being able to enjoy some decent midwinter racing action from the Middle East since the start of the Dubai International Racing Carnival in 2004. The Dubai World Cup, for so long the world's richest race bar a temporary interruption to that status by the Pegasus World Cup, has been usurped in recent years by the $20 million Saudi Cup, which is set for its third running in 2022.  The Bahrain International Trophy was recently staged for a third year, and for the first time it...

By Emma Berry SAKHIR, Bahrain--He's been a star of Royal Ascot and a star of Meydan, and on Bahrain's biggest race day the charismatic Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) triumphed once more, snatching the G3 Bahrain International Trophy from the Godolphin duo of Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) and Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) with a perfectly timed late run.  His trainer David O'Meara had warned earlier in the week that his 8-year-old stable star comes alive in the heat of the Middle East and under an excellent ground-saving ride from Jason...

SAKHIR, Bahrain--Old habits die hard. Neil MacKenzie Ross may have been Clerk of the Course at Sakhir racecourse in Bahrain for the last seven years but even in 24-degree heat at 7am, the British ex-pat was easy to spot in the green wellies in which he doubtless completed plenty of laps of Lingfield when he filled the same role at the Sussex course. "There is quite a thick dew," he said with a defensive grin as he awaited the arrival of the 14 runners for Friday's Bahrain International Trophy for...

Saudi Arabia's $20-million Saudi Cup has been awarded Group 1 status beginning in 2022 it was announced during Monday's virtual meeting of the Executive Council of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). The move follows the promotion of both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from Part III to Part II of the ICS Book by the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC). In addition, the Neom Turf Cup, Saudi Derby, STC 1,351 Turf Sprint, Riyadh Dirt Sprint and Red Sea Turf, as well as Bahrain's Bahrain International Trophy...

Trainer George Baker is opening a satellite yard in Bahrain. Baker, whose horses have won on both the Flat and over jumps, has saddled winners in France and St Moritz, as well. The second annual Bahrain International Trophy, hosted by the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, is set for Nov. 20. "We are hugely excited at the official announcement of a long-term partnership between the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club and George Baker Racing, which signals our long-term commitment to horse racing in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and we look...

The Nov. 20 £500,000 Bahrain International Trophy field of 14 has been set after the latest supplementary stage closed. There are five Group 1 winners set to take part including Coolmore's G1 Irish Derby winner Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Japan's MG1SW Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), G1SW Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper), MGISW Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling) and Godolphin's G1SW Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Although MG1SW Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) has suffered a minor setback, Godolphin will also field MGSW Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead). John Gosden sends HH Shaikh...

Jockey Hollie Doyle has picked up the ride on Group 1 winner Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) in the Nov. 20 £500,000 International Trophy in Bahrain, Racing Post reported. Doyle, who earned her first Group 1 win aboard Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) on British Champions Day last month, has ridden 129 winners through Saturday and will ride Mighty Gurkha (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}) in the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 6. Deirdre, winner of the G1 Nassau S. in the UK in 2019, was also successful in the...