The 2024-25 edition of the Bahrain Turf Series concludes this Thursday on day one of The King’s Cup Festival and several horses are still in with a chance of winning the $40,000 bonus awarded to the winner of each division.

This season the Bahrain Turf Club’s international programme has been expanded and includes two additional races in the Bahrain Turf Series, both of which are run on Thursday. The new races are worth $100,000 each and combined, the six sprint races and six middle-distance races are worth a total of $1million, with a further $80,000 available in bonuses.

The Hugo Palmer trained Roman Dragon leads the sprint division on 28 points and co-owner, Nick Hughes, is excited by the prospect of his gelding performing well enough to secure the $40,000 bonus prize that is divided between the connections of the horse.

Such a result would be a dream outcome for Hughes, for whom Roman Dragon is his only horse in training, he said: “To win the series would be amazing. It’s not just about winning one race, it about consistently performing against a lot of good horses. I have to pinch myself when I see we are competing against owners who have horses all over the world. I work hard and any money I earn goes into looking after Roman Dragon.”

A racing fan since the time his father took him to Chester Races aged eight, Nick Hughes added: “Ever since I was a boy, racing has been my passion. It was always a dream to own a horse and I was lucky enough to first do so at the age of 33. The colours were chosen by my late Auntie Sandra shortly before she passed away, so they are very special.”

Those same blue and pink colours are carried by Roman Dragon, a horse that Hughes co-owns with former footballer, Michael Owen.

“A few years ago, through a friend from college, I was introduced to Michael Owen and his Manor House Stables, and I have had a horse in training there ever since. Michael bred Roman Dragon and both of our families love to watch him race.

“Roman Dragon has had a lot of success at Chester but the racing in Bahrain has been an amazing story. He seems to love racing there as much as Michael and I enjoy visiting. Last year we were there to watch him win and it was a day we will never forget. He was an outsider and many, including ourselves, didn't give us much chance, so when we won, we celebrated as if we had won the Arc de Triomphe!!

“Bahrain is a magical place and we have met some amazing people through the Turf Series. His Highness Shaikh Isa presented Micheal and I with the trophy last year, which was such an honour. When Roman Dragon won the Al Sakhir Cup this season, I was gutted I couldn't make the trip. However, I was delighted for Sarah Peacock to receive the prize as she has been a star looking after Roman Dragon and keeping him fit and healthy.”

With 15 points for a win and 10 points for second place, the horses that are competing with Roman Dragon for the bonus include the locally trained pair Nomadic Empire and Redemption Time, as well as George Boughey’s consistent sprinter, Spangled Mac. However, a first three finish would be enough to see Roman Dragon land the series.

“Unfortunately, we can’t be there to see Roman Dragon on Thursday and, as we have seen in the past, the series always goes to the wire and there are many good horses still fighting to win it. Myself and Michael, with our family, friends and some staff from Manor House, will watch it together in Chester and I imagine there will be a bit of a party if he can pull it off!”

With 26 points, Majestic, trained by Jack Channon, holds a slender lead of just one point in the middle-distance division and any one of half a dozen horses could end up winning the bonus prize.

A former winner of the prestigious Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket, Majestic was in great form on his first two starts in the Bahrain Turf Series, but he finished unplaced last time out and has been given a little break since that run in January.

Al Mohamediya Racing own three of the pursuing challengers for the bonus prize in Merlin’s Beard, Soldier’s Empire and Knight Of Honour. Also in the mix are the internationals, Snellen, trained by Gavin Cromwell, and Mr Alan, trained by George Boughey.

This year, The King’s Cup Festival is a two-day event, taking place on Thursday 6^th and Friday 7^thMarch. Day one features the climax of the Bahrain Turf Series and day two hosts the 2025 running of The King’s Cup.

The King’s Cup, run in honour of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is the oldest and most prestigious prize in Bahrain’s racing calendar. Worth $200,000 and sponsored by Bapco Energies, the race was first staged over 40 years ago and this year’s edition is notable as it marks the first running of The King’s Cup since it was awarded international Group 3 status.

All the races can be watched on the Bahrain Turf Club’s website via the Live Stream and the two Bahrain Turf Series races will be shown in the UK and Ireland on Racing TV.