HORSERACING – The starting gate positions for the star-studded field participating in this Friday’s $1 million Bahrain International Trophy will be determined tonight in the official post-position draw.
The Group Two race will be the headlining event of an exciting eight-race card on the weekend at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir, where world-class runners coming from Britain, Ireland, France, the UAE, and Bahrain will be competing in the kingdom’s most valuable race.
The eight participating horses and their trainers and jockeys have begun their final preparations with training runs at REHC this week.
Amongst the intended runners are four-year-old gelding Bright Picture, trained by Andre Fabre and owned by Wertheimer and Frere; four-year-old colt Persica, trained by Richard Hannon and owned by Martin Hughes and Michael Kerr-Dineen; six-year-old gelding Calif, trained by Fawzi Nass and owned by Victorious Forever; three-year-old gelding Pride of Arras, trained by Ralph Bekcett and owned by Mrs David Aykroyd; four-year-old gelding Galen, trained by Joseph O’Brien and owned by Barry Taylor, TG Fitzgerald, Paul H Redmond, and Barry Fowler; seven-year-old gelding Royal Champion, trained by Karl Burke and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; five-year-old gelding Lion’s Pride, trained by John and Thady Gosden and owned by AE Oppenheimer; and five-year-old gelding Military Order, trained by Charlie Appleby and owned by Godolphin.
Run over 2,000m, this year’s Bahrain International Trophy will be held under floodlights at REHC, scheduled for a 7.40pm start. Also on the day, seven high-profile races will also be held.
These include the Grand Seiko-Bahrain Jewellery Centre Cup, which offers $40,000 in total prize money; along with the Economic Development Board Cup, the Bapco Energies Cup, and the Lexus Cup, each carrying a $30,000 prize purse.
The card is completed by the Beyon Cup and Brown Advisory Cup, each offering $16,000 in prize money, and the Gulf Air Cup, carrying $14,000 in winnings.
Friday’s Bahrain International Trophy is one of the highlights of the 2025-26 season at REHC.
It is being held in its seventh edition, and it will be broadcast live to over 100 countries.
Aside from the horseracing action, there will be plenty of entertainment for the whole family at the venue.
Other major events in this campaign at REHC include the Group Three His Majesty the King’s Cup Festival on March 5 and 6 next year, the HRH the Crown Prince’s Cup Festival on January 29 and 30, and the Bahrain Turf Series, which will feature 12 races held over several stages from December to March.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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