HORSERACING – Promoted this year to Group 1 level, the 2026 running of the Bahrain International Trophy has attracted its highest calibre entry in the race’s history, featuring a host of top-flight winners among the 69 entries, including representatives from 10 racing nations.
Established in 2019, the 2,000m (10 furlongs) race is the most valuable in Bahrain and over the course of just seven runnings it has climbed the ladder to Group 1 status and become an elite international sporting event.
With an increased prize fund of $1.5million, the 2026 Group 1 Bahrain International Trophy takes place on Friday 13 November at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club.
The same day sees the inaugural running of the Gulf of Bahrain Cup, an open handicap run over 2800m (14 furlongs) with a prize fund of $400,000 for which there are 62 entries, with eight racing nations represented.
Ireland’s champion trainer, Aidan O’Brien is bidding to break his own world record of 28 Group 1 winners in a calendar year, to date in 2026 he has trained 18 and this year he is hoping to win his first Bahrain International Trophy and add to his haul.
O’Brien has five entries, headed by three-time Group 1 winner and last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up, Minnie Hauk.
The four-year-old filly is joined by the 2025 dual Derby winner Lambourn and this year’s Prix du Jockey Club runner-up, Hawk Mountain.
Royal Champion’s success in the 2025 Bahrain International Trophy was trainer Karl Burke’s first Stakes winner outside of Europe.
The eight-year-old gelding gave his handler further international success when winning the Group 1 Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh in February and is joined in the entries for Bahrain’s first Group 1 by stable companions Zeus Olympios and Boiling Point, who, like Royal Champion, run in the colours of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.
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