Royal Champion proves just that in thrilling Bahrain triumph

Royal Champion ruled supreme over the field to capture the Bahrain International Trophy for Karl Burke, getting up in the final strides to deny Galen’s bid to make all the running.

The 15-8 favourite travelled well in a handy position throughout the mile-and-a-quarter Group Two feature, producing a finishing burst that has encouraged his trainer – who was putting the seal on a fantastic year – to try him over a longer trip in 2026.

When Galen kicked away over a furlong out he looked the likely winner, only for James Doyle to produce a masterstroke when he uncorked the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old, who scored by three-quarters of a length.

Burke said: “James gave him a great ride. We wanted to get him settled and into a good rhythm. I told James it would take him a hundred metres to really find his stride, and while I thought we were beat a furlong and a half out, he had it under control. This horse stays well, and he’s tough.”

The success was a third in the last four years in the race for North Yorkshire-based trainers and Burke added: “You can never expect everything to go right. He takes a long time to get going and we only did it on the last few strides. I didn’t want them to crawl, and as he runs very well when fresh I didn’t want to bring him down here and do too much.

“He’s quite exuberant and nervy and I think it will be well worth a try running him over a mile and a half next year.”

Doyle paid tribute to the part the injured Clifford Lee has played in the career of the winner, saying: “He’s a professional horse and he relaxed very well. The leader set a slowish pace and then quickened it up. When he kicked it was a bit of a worry, but a furlong out I knew we were going to win.

“It turned out well for us and the experts were proved right, but I would like Clifford Lee to know we are thinking of him.”

Meanwhile, Joseph O’Brien praised Dylan Browne McGonagle for the ride he gave runner-up Galen.

He said: “Our horse quickened it up well and I thought we had it, the winner found what was required but I’m proud of the way Galen ran. He’s a high-class horse on his day.”

Godolphin’s Military Order stayed on well down the centre of the track to finish an honourable third, just half a length off the second, but Pride Of Arras was put in his place after trying to mount a challenge on Galen, weakening into fourth under Rossa Ryan.