The countdown has started for the second Bahrain International Trophy on November 20 at the Rashid Equestrian Horseracing Club in Sakhir.
The event has already attracted the attention of international media specialised in horse racing.
Well-known racing teams and owners have confirmed their participation with champion horses.
A further boost to the race is the announcement of Aidan O’Brien-trained Sovereign being supplemented for the £500,000 contest by his owners Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith.
Sovereign was a six-length winner of last year’s Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh and also finished runner-up to Enable in this year’s Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot.
Mr O’Brien said, “Sovereign is a strong mile and a quarter horse. He is a very strong galloper who likes to go forward in his races and we think the Bahrain International Trophy will suit him.”
Sovereign will be Mr O’Brien’s first ever runner in Bahrain and he added: “He is a big genuine, sound horse. He’s an Irish Derby winner. We saw what he did in the Irish Derby and he ran a massive race in the King George where he was second to Enable, so we think the race will suit him and we are looking forward to seeing him run.”
The supplementary stage for the one mile two-furlong contest closes on Tuesday. A maximum field of 14 will go to post with 12 European runners and two locally trained runners.