HORSERACING – THE stage is set for this year’s Bahrain International Trophy, which has attracted runners from six different racing jurisdictions, including three Group One winners and last year’s winner Spirit Dancer.
It will be the first time the event will be run under floodlights following their installation this year at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC), and Bahrain’s most valuable race is set to reach a global television audience with 23 broadcasters showing the race.
Coverage in Europe includes Racing TV, Sky Sports Racing, and French broadcaster Equidia.
Some of the world’s leading sports broadcasters that are taking live coverage include Fox Sports in the US and ESPN/Star+ in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In another first for the race, live coverage will be shown in Japan via digital platform Netkeiba, which engages 17m monthly users, and in Canada via leading sports network SportsNet.
The nine international runners have landed in Bahrain and have settled well into their new surroundings at REHC.
Yesterday morning, jockey Kieran Shoemark was reunited with his mount Lead Artist and gave him an easy workout on the grass.
The John and Thady Gosden trained colt has been ridden by Shoemark in all his starts, including when the pair won the Darley Stakes at Newmarket last time out.
Another big-race jockey on board his mount was Oisin Orr, who was on Spirit Dancer. The combination is bidding to become first to win two Bahrain International Trophies following their victory last year.
Trainer Richard Fahey was there to oversee proceedings and co-owners Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason are flying in for the race.
Once again in opposition to Spirit Dancer is Nations Pride. The Godolphin owned five-year-old looks in great shape and very relaxed as he exercised on the grass. This year, following his win in the Grade One Arlington Million, he is coming into the race after a longer break than was the case in 2023, which may work in his favour.
Trainer Owen Burrows was on hand to supervise the work of Alflaila, as was Yann Lerner to see Calif, one of two French trained horses in the race.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Point Lonsdale, who was third in last year’s race, was the first of the internationals out on the track and he did a circuit on the synthetic surface, looking typically relaxed while enjoying his work.
The Japan-trained runners were only walking yesterday having had stronger exercise the day before.
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