HORSERACING – ROYAL Champion lived up to his name with a sensational victory last night in the $1 million Bahrain International Trophy, held in front of a massive crowd at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
The seven-year-old gelding, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by fellow-Briton James Doyle for owner Shaikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum from the UAE, took first place in the Group Two 2,000-metre race with a late charge to the front.
Prime Minister’s Court Minister and REHC High Committee chairman Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa presented Burke and Doyle their trophies.
Royal Champion triumphed ahead of Galen, who had led for much of the event. Military Order came third and Pride of Arras was fourth, while completing the finishing order from fifth through eighth, respectively, were Lion’s Pride, Calif, Bright Picture, and Persica.
“He is an experienced horse as far as travelling goes and he looks fantastic, but you need every little bit to go your way, and thankfully it did tonight,” Burke told the GDN following celebrations in the winner’s enclosure.
“The second horse looked to me to get a nice, easy lead, and that helped him as he quickened up well; I didn’t think we were going to get him back, to be honest, until the last furlong. James knew what he was doing.
“It’s my first time in Bahrain and I’m very impressed – beautiful facilities, people look after you very well, so hopefully we can come back again.”
Doyle told the GDN: “I was worried most of the way, but in the last furlong – which is when it mattered – he got his head organised, and hit the line good.”
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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