The entries for the 2023 running of the $1M Bahrain International Trophy have been published and they are the strongest yet in the race’s five-year history. The international challenge features horses from eight different countries in the care of some of the world’s leading trainers, including entries from France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The 2023 Bahrain International Trophy takes place on Friday 17th November at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club and this year the race is more valuable than ever following an increase in the prize fund to $1M and an upgrade of the race’s status to Group 2.

Run over 1m2f (2000m), the race has attracted 60 entries. Among the highest rated horses entered are two-time Group 1 winner Nations Pride, Horizon Doré, recent winner of the Prix Dollar at Paris-Longchamp, and the Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed My Prospero.

Notable three-year-olds include the French 2000 Guineas winner, Marhaba Ya Sanafi, and The Foxes, winner of the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York. Meanwhile, the older horses include Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale, whose most recent run came in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, Dubai Future, last year’s winner of the Bahrain International Trophy, 2021 German Derby winner Sisfahan and the six-year-old, Astro King, winner of the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket, who will making the step up to Group 2 level.

A maximum field of fourteen will go to post and aiming to keep the valuable prize in the Kingdom of Bahrain are seven locally trained horses, led by the five-year-old, Qaader, trained by Fawzi Nass and a winner at the Saudi Cup meeting in Riyadh in February.

Yusuf Buheji, CEO, Bahrain Turf Club, said:

“We are delighted that the Bahrain International Trophy has attracted such a strong entry. To have eight different countries represented and for the horses to be of such a high standard is very encouraging.

“The Bahrain International Trophy is our showpiece event and we are looking forward to staging the most competitive and valuable running of the race to date and welcoming runners and their connections from all over the world to Bahrain.”

There may yet be an additional runner to be added to the list of entries. Layfayette, trained by Noel Meade, and Spirit Dancer, trained by Richard Fahey, both received an automatic invitation to the Bahrain International Trophy as winners of the Fitzdares Royal Whip (Gr3) at the Curragh and the Sky Bet and Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Gr3) at York respectively. The third and final race for which the winner gets an automatic invitation is the Darley Stakes (Gr3) run this coming weekend, Saturday 14th October, at Newmarket.

Ed Veale, Director of Racing and International Relations for the Bahrain Turf Club added:

“To have a total of 60 entries from no fewer than eight different countries, featuring 38 Group race winners, including three that have scored at the highest level, is fantastic and a reward for the sustained investment in the race by the Club.”

The increase in the prize fund of the Bahrain International Trophy is part of an all-round investment programme making the 2023-24 season in Bahrain the most valuable yet. In addition, the Kingdom’s three Listed races, the Crown Prince’s Cup, the King’s Cup and the Al Methaq Mile, have all been boosted in value and the prize money on offer in the ten races that comprise the Bahrain Turf Series has also increased with each race worth $80,000 (£65,000).

All the details are reproduced in the Bahrain Turf Club’s international racing brochure 2023-24, including the race programme for imported horses and travel incentives for internationally trained horses. Click here to view the brochure.

Click here to view the full list of entries.