HORSERACING – THE starting gate positions were determined last night for tomorrow’s $1.5 million Group One Bahrain International Trophy, the kingdom’s most valuable horserace.
The official post-position draw for the historic event took place at Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.
Prime Minister’s Court Minister and Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) High Committee chairman Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa graced the ceremony.
Also in attendance were Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Supreme Council for Environment vice-president, REHC High Committee deputy chairman, and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports member Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa, along with other high-ranking officials and connections of the participating horses.
Tomorrow’s race is being held as one of the highlights of REHC’s Golden Jubilee season. It will be the first time it will be run following its promotion to Group One, and it will headline tomorrow’s stacked nine-race card in Sakhir.
The draw results for gates one to 13, respectively, featured Seagulls Eleven, Galen, Phineas, Hi Royal, Military Order, Glacius, Wimbledon Hawkeye, Baroud, Lambourn, Calif, last year’s winner Royal Champion, Zaydann, and Sallaal.
Royal Champion’s world-renowned trainer Karl Burke was satisfied with the eight-year-old gelding’s starting position and is upbeat ahead of tomorrow’s race, which he said boasts a higher-quality field than last year’s.
“I’m very hopeful – the horse looks in great shape, he has travelled over really well, he’s a very experienced traveller and doesn’t hold any qualms for us,” Burke told the GDN following the draw.
“He had a good breeze on the track yesterday, could have done without the rain. I would prefer that the rains stay away as he likes quick ground, but hopefully the next two days it will dry up.
“We’re happy with the draw result. If you had given me the perfect draw beforehand, it was in the middle seven, but the way they’re set up with the front runners, I think Lambourne and Calif are on our inside, they go forward, they’d be perfect.
“I’m very hopeful that we can run a big race – I think it’s a better race than last year. There are three or four horses that come in and will hold better form than the horses we took on last year.”
Burke expressed his delight with this year’s Bahrain International Trophy being upgraded to Group One status. Royal Champion triumphed in 2025 when the race was a Group Two event.
“It’s fantastic that this race is a Group One,” Burke said. “I’m delighted for Bahrain, they’re such passionate racing people.”
Tomorrow’s Bahrain International Trophy will be run over 2,000 metres, and it will be held under REHC’s state-of-the-art floodlights. It is scheduled for a 7.35pm start.
Royal Champion will be looking to become only the second two-time winner of the event, following in the footsteps of Spirit Dancer, who triumphed in 2024 and 2023 for co-owner and legendary football manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Other past victors were Dubai Future in 2022, Lord Glitters in 2021, Simsir in 2020, and Royal Julius in the inaugural edition in 2019.
Meanwhile, the post-position draw for the inaugural $400,000 Gulf of Bahrain Cup was also held last night.
Set to start from gates one to 14, respectively, are The Reverend, Stormy Ocean, Space Waltz, Westridge, Emit, Signalman, Tarriance, Samui, Beylerbeyi, Gaucher, Karla Jet, Dubai Future, Ascending, and A Piece Of Heaven.
The 2,800m race is set for 6.45pm tomorrow.
The evening’s exciting programme at REHC is scheduled for a 4.45pm start, and it will feature seven other races, the last of which will begin at 9.15pm.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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