HORSERACING – HOTAZHELL secured a sensational victory last night in a dramatic running of the Group One Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, held as part of the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland.
The four-year-old bay colt produced the biggest shock in the history of the world-renowned race and a narrow victory for owners Silverton Hill Partnership and trainer Jessica Harrington.
Wimbledon Hawkeye, in the colours of Bahrain’s Victorious Forever, finishing second, beaten only by a nose. The third-placed horse was Constitution River, trained by Aidan O’Brien.
The winner’s trophy for the 2026 running of the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, which offered a EUR1.25million total prize, was presented by Supreme Council for Environment vice-president, Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) High Committee deputy chairman, and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports member Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes has established itself as one of the world’s leading races, and this year’s eight-runner renewal included six horses who had already enjoyed success at Group One level.
Such was the depth of quality in the field that Hotazhell was one of the outsiders, despite having won a Group One race in Germany last time out.
In a strongly run event, Hotazhell was delivered by jockey Shane Foley to take up the running from Constitution River inside the final 200 metres, before holding off the late challenge of Wimbledon Hawkeye and Christophe Soumillon in a photo-finish.
Despite finishing second, Wimbledon Hawkeye recorded a career-best performance after being purchased by Victorious Forever earlier this season and moved to George Scott’s yard in Newmarket.
“I’ve always said from day one he’s a really, really good horse and he dined at the top table all last year but Jessie and Kate have brought him back slowly this year, we’ve took baby steps with him and it’s really paid dividends,” Foley said after the race speaking to Racing TV.
“Jessie is a phenomenal woman, a great trainer to work for. I’ve been with her a long time now and she just instils that confidence in you, never questions what you want to do.
“This is definitely one of the best wins of my career. It’s the biggest weekend of the year, the Champion Stakes, and I’m lost for words really.”
Hotazhell’s trainer Harrington added: “It’s fantastic – it’s just amazing and for this horse to win two Group Ones this year is even more amazing but, you roll the dice and take your chance.
“For this horse, this year has just got better and better.”
The first three home in yesterday’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes each received an automatic invitation to the Bahrain International Trophy on November 13 at REHC.
Run over 2,000m (10 furlongs), the 2026 Bahrain International Trophy will be a historic event, with it being the first Group One to be staged in the kingdom following the race’s upgrade this year.
Entries close on September 30.
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