A field of 12 was declared Sunday for the fourth running of the £600,000 G3 Bahrain International Trophy to be run over the 2000 metres Friday, Nov. 19, at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club.
Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) was beaten less than one length into third behind the since-retired Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) in last year's main event, and the US-bred galloper could be one of as many of four entrants this time around. The seven-year-old was victorious in the G3 Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud in 2021, but was well-beaten in this year's G1 Saudi Cup and the G1 Dubai World Cup, in which he was third in 2021. Given a lengthy spell, the Andre Fabre trainee prepped for this challenge with a three-length victory over the all-weather track at Chantilly Oct. 8. He could be joined by Meydan listed winner Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), eighth here last year, and Passion And Glory (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) from Saeed bin Suroor; and by the Charlie Appleby-conditioned G3 Dubai Millennium S. hero Royal Fleet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Shadwell's Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) comes into the Bahrain Trophy in top form, having won the G3 Strensall S. at York Aug. 20 and the Oct. 8 G3 Darley S. at Newmarket in his last two outings.
“I've been really, really pleased with him since Newmarket,” trainer Owen Burrows told the Bahrain Turf Club. “He has come out of the race well. He looks great and although we're coming towards the end of the year, he's showing me no signs that he has had a hard season. He's really well.”
The Aga Khan-bred Simsir (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) took the 2020 renewal of this race for Victorious and trainer Fawzi Nass, and Dilawar (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will try to see that lightning strikes twice for the same connections. Previously trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the five-year-old won the 2021 G3 Prix Quincey in the Aga Khan colours and was only narrowly beaten in this year's G2 Prix du Muguet and G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines. He was acquired for €500,000 at last month's Arqana Arc Sale with this race in mind.
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