Bahrain International Trophy: Nation's Pride heads classy field

The runners and riders for the 2023 Bahrain International Trophy have been confirmed with 14 horses set to go to post in what is the strongest field yet in the race’s five-year history.

The high-class field will be competing for a $1m prize fund and the race has attracted overseas-trained horses from France, Great Britain, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates as well as two locally trained runners with the contenders are headed by three-time Group One winner, Nation’s Pride, the mount of British champion jockey William Buick.

Retained as first jockey to the Godolphin operation and recently crowned British champion jockey for the second year in a row, William Buick is one of seven current or former champion jockeys from Great Britain, France or Ireland engaged to ride in the race.

In three previous attempts in the Bahrain International Trophy, Buick has yet to finish closer than seventh but he believes Nation’s Pride represents his best chance yet.

Buick said: “Nation’s Pride is a very good horse. He was a classy three-year-old and went into the 2021 Derby as a genuine contender but on the day he probably didn’t stay. But he has always been held in high regard and he has performed really well since.”

This season Nation’s Pride has won two Group One races, the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis-Bayerischesin July in Germany and then last month the Canadian International.

Buick added: “When he won the Group One in Germany, he gave me a really good feel and beat the German Derby winner in good style. Then, last time out in Canada, the soft ground was not to his liking but he still won.

“He’s a very straightforward horse to ride. I have not had much luck in the race previously but this fella is different, he’s a mile and quarter specialist and I think he is a real good candidate.

“Nation’s Pride is the best chance I have had in the Bahrain International Trophy but it is a strong line-up, a really competitive field, and on good, fast ground, you are going to need to have the margins in your favour.”

On racing in the Kingdom, Buick added: “I love going to Bahrain. It is a very fair track and they do a great job with the ground and the crowd there love their racing, they’re very enthusiastic. I am looking forward to it.”

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Nation’s Pride, also saddles Highland Avenue, while Saeed Bin Suroor’s two runners, last year’s Bahrain International Trophy winner Dubai Future and Group One runner-up Real World, with a fifth Godolphin contender lining up from France in the Andre Fabre-trained Birr Castle.

Among the horses travelling from Europe is the French Classic-winning colt Marhaba Ya Sanafi, who as well as winning a Group One over a mile was third in the French Derby. Point Lonsdale travels from Ireland as the representative for Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore set to take the mount, while Joseph O'Brien saddles top-level winner Above The Curve with Noel Meade also sending over Layfayette.

John and Thady Gosden’s Israr, Daniel and Claire Kubler’s Astro King and Richard Fahey’s Spirit Dancer are also set to line up .

Astro King will be the first runner outside of Europe for the husband-and-wife team and Claire Kubler told Great British Racing International: "It's incredible and very exciting. It’s great having Bahrain putting on a race like this to attract international contenders and hopefully Astro King can put his best foot forward and do us proud."

On Spirit Dancer, the Strensall Stakes winner and Frankel gelding bred by Sir Alex Ferguson and Niall McLoughlin and owned by Peter Done, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jed Mason, trainer Richard Fahey said: “The target all season was Bahrain because it’s a million dollar race and a good opportunity in trip, track and everything will suit. Bahrain is an up-and-coming racing nation and they’re really, really pushing it. We were third in this race a couple of seasons ago.”

The trainer added to Great British Racing International: "He’s a very laid back horse. When you go on about international runners, you’ve got to pick the right horse and this horse’s mind is great and I’m sure he’ll probably drive the plane back on the way home because he’s just so laid back. There’s no issues with him at all.”

The strength of the line-up combined with the quality of jockeys travelling to Bahrain for the race has delighted those who have overseen the race’s development since its inception in 2019.

His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, said: “The Bahrain International Trophy is the showpiece event in our racing calendar. This year it is more valuable than ever and the growth of the race’s stature on the world stage has been recognised with its upgrade to Group Two status.

“The progress we have made in recent years is evident through the calibre of horses attracted and the increasing scale of international participation.

“Following an increase in the prize fund, the Bahrain International Trophy will be the first $1million race to be run in the Kingdom and the line-up is the strongest in the race’s history. We extend a warm welcome to all the connections of overseas trained horses overseas and look forward to a memorable race on Friday.”

The draw to establish each runner’s starting gate takes place on Wednesday evening.