Strong entry revealed for Bahrain International Trophy with Spirit Dancer back to defend his crown
Spirit Dancer, the winner of the 2023 Bahrain International Trophy, is on course to return to Bahrain in a bid to make history as the first dual winner of the race. However, he will face strong opposition as the $1million Group 2 race has attracted a truly international field with entries from seven countries outside of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Last year, Spirit Dancer beat a high-class field to win the Bahrain International Trophy, the first following the race’s promotion to Group 2 status, providing trainer Richard Fahey, jockey Oisin Orr and owners Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and Peter Done with a day to remember. Spirit Dancer went on to win the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia but he has not been seen on a racecourse since March when he ran in Dubai.
The 2024 running of the $1million Bahrain International Trophy, which takes place on 15th November at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, has attracted 61 entries, including ten Group 1 winners and 45 Stakes race winners.
To see the full line-up of entries click here
Leading the list of horses with Group or Grade 1 form this season is Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa, his father Aidan O’Brien’s Coronation Cup winner, Luxembourg, this year’s Arlington Million victor, Nations Pride, and two German Group 1 winners in Fantastic Moon and Calif, as well as German Group 1 runner-up, Straight. In addition, three-time Group 1 winner Nashwa, has also been entered ahead of her return to action at Newmarket on Saturday.
Spirit Dancer’s trainer, Richard Fahey, appreciates the scale of the task ahead but reports that the 7-year-old son of Frankel, bred by his co-owner, Sir Alex Ferguson, is on schedule to defend his crown and is due to re-appear on 12th October at Newmarket before flying to Bahrain.
Richard Fahey said: “Spirit Dancer is in great form. He will have a prep run at Newmarket in the Darley Stakes, following the same route that he took last year. We all had an amazing trip and experience in Bahrain and the team are really looking forward to going back this year.”
Included among Spirit Dancer’s potential rivals is Facteur Cheval, trained in France by Jerome Reynier and another horse to have tasted success in the Middle East, having won the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March. On that occasion, Facteur Cheval beat two Japanese trained horses into second and third place and this year, for the first time, the Bahrain International Trophy has attracted entries due to travel from Japan.
The entries include the Japanese based Group 1 winner Killer Ability, trained by Takashi Saito, the 4-year-old, Ho O Biscuits, trained by Takeshi Okumura, and the year younger, Mr G T, trained by Yoshito Yahagi. Renowned as a trainer with a formidable record of success when running horses on the international scene, Yahagi already has major victories to his name in Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and the USA.
Ed Veale, Director of Racing and International Relations for the Bahrain Turf Club said: “We are delighted that the Bahrain International Trophy has attracted entries of such quality and it is great to see so many different countries represented. The event’s status in the racing calendar is growing year on year and to have attracted Japanese based horses for the first time is testament to that.
“It is also exciting that Spirit Dancer and his connections are returning to Bahrain to defend their crown. He is part of a strong European team of entries that includes Group 1 performers from France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
“To have a total of 61 entries representing eight different countries, featuring 45 Stakes race winners, including ten that have scored at the highest level, is fantastic and a reward for the sustained investment in the race by the Bahrain Turf Club.”
Some of the world’s leading owner-breeder operations are also represented, including HH The Aga Khan with the Francis Henri Graffard trained duo Dolayli and Zarir, and Shadwell Estate through two high-class Owen Burrows trained horses in Alflaila and Anmaat. Other British trained interests include four of this year’s Classic generation, Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly, Irish Derby runner-up Sunway, Royal Ascot winner Jayarebe and Strensall Stakes winner, See The Fire.
The Bahrain International Trophy is staged over 2000m (1¼m) and has a maximum field of fourteen runners. The Bahrain based home trained team are headed by El Habeeb and Sprewell, and include Sovereign Spirit, runner-up to Isle Of Jura in last season’s King’s Cup.