Michael Bell books Ryan Moore for Bahrain bid

A field of 12 has been declared for Friday’s Listed HRH The Crown Prince’s Cup, sponsored by Howden.

The race, awarded Listed status for the first time, is run over 1m 2f and will be run on Friday at 12.35(GMT) and shown live on Racing TV.

The Michael Bell-trained Ace Rothstein has been based in Bahrain for the inaugural Bahrain Turf Series but managed to beat two smart rivals to win a local Grade 2, The Al Adiyat Cup earlier this month under Charlie Bishop.

Bell has secured the services of 2021 Longines World’s Best Jockey Ryan Moore for the ride on Friday. It will be Moore’s first ride in Bahrain since finishing 3rd in the 2020 Bahrain International Trophy on Sovereign.

Derby-winning trainer Michael Bell has made the trip over to Bahrain ahead of Friday’s race and spoke of his chances. He said: “Ace Rothstein won a couple of races back in England having had a late start to his three-year-old career. He came out to Bahrain just before Christmas and was a bit unlucky in one of the Turf Series races when he got a bit squeezed on the rail. He then won a nice trial race for the Crown Prince’s Cup 10 days ago.

“In theory, he’ll have to step up again. He was getting six and a half pounds from Medal Winner who is one of the best horses trained in Bahrain, but he beat him pretty emphatically and it was over a trip short of our best.

“We’re stepping up to ten furlongs this week which should suit so even though we’re worse off at the weights, the extra furlong should stand him in good stead.”

On the booking of Ryan Moore, Bell said: “We’ve got a very experienced jockey and the horse is definitely training well over here. He looks great and he’s eating well. With the locals, it’s always the same when you go overseas. When you go to Ireland you take on Aidan O’Brien, and when you come to Bahrain you take on Shaikh Isa and Fawzi Nass.”

Ryan Moore is riding in Saudi Arabia on Thursday before making the trip over to Bahrain.

The field is made up of both locally and internationally-trained horses with a total of three British-trained contenders in the field. Pistoletto (John Ryan) will be ridden by Stevie Donohoe and Dawam (George Baker) will be ridden by George Wood.

The locally-trained horses include recent Bahrain Turf Series winners Tawaareq and Mars Landing who represent the Hesham Al Haddad and Fawzi Nass training operation and will have a total of six horses lining up in this year's renewal. David Egan, operating at a 32% strike rate this season in Bahrain, will ride Tawareeq.