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SportsCasting

Andy Newton

2024 Bahrain International Trophy Runners

Alex Ferguson Bahrain Sir Alex Ferguson Owen Burrows Ryan Moore William Buick Aidan OBrien John Gosden Thady Gosden United Kingdom

Friday’s $1m Bahrain International Trophy will have added interest from horse racing fans in Britain and Ireland – with five entries that include the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned Spirit Dancer, who won the prize 12 months ago.

Fergie’s Spirit Dancer Hopes To Defend Bahrain International Trophy Title

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was laughing all the way to the bank this time last year – as one of the horses he part owns landed the lucrative Bahrain International Trophy – which has a purse of $1m and that translated to sterling was a cool £500,000 for the winner.

This year it’s a slightly less £472k for first past the post and Fergie is trying his luck again with the same horse that won in 2023 – Spirit Dancer.

As a result of winning the Bahrain International Trophy this has helped Spirit Dancer take his career earnings to £1.7m – which Sir Alex Ferguson took a third cut.

While, since winning this race last year, Spirit Dancer also landed the Howden Neom Turf Cup and another £944k.

Spirit Dancer Will Be The Oldest Bahrain International Trophy Runner In The Field

At the age of seven Spirit Dancer is back to try and defend his title on Friday 15th November at the Bahrain racecourse – with the race run on their turf track over a trip of 1m2f.

He’ll also be the oldest horse in the field of 12 Bahrain International Trophy runners.

Even if Fergie’s horse can’t land the top prize – last year’s runner-up scooped £166k, the third £83k, the 4th £50k and the 5th £33k.

Spirit Dancer, who will be ridden again by Oisin Orr, will take on eleven other runners – and there are some familiar faces for European racing lovers with entries from the Aidan O’Brien, Owen Burrows, Charlie Appleby John and Thady Gosden stables, plus the Francis-Henri Graffard yard in France

The last three runnings have gone to a European-trained horse – with Saeed Bin Suroor winning in 2022 with Dubai Future and David O’Meara landing the big pot in 2021 with his popular grey Lord Glitters.

Ryan Moore and William Buick Will Ride In Bahrain International Trophy

Top European jockey Ryan Moore and William Buick are also jetting over to ride in the Bahrain International Trophy.

Moore will get the leg-up on Point Lonsdale for trainer Aidan O’Brien and will be the 20th career run for this 5 year-old. He was an impressive winner of the G3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester back in May (watch below).

While Buick will ride Godolphin’s Nations Pride for trainer Charlie Appleby. This 5 year-old has won over £2.6m in prize money in his career and is no stranger to landing a big international race – he won the Arlington Million last time out in the US.

Both horses are sure to be popular with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.

John Gosden’s Lead Artist Another Big Bahrain International Trophy Runner From The UK

Another familiar face will be the Gosden-trained Lead Artist.

This 3 year-old will get weight (3lbs) from the older horses and heads here having won 50% of his six career runs. The last of these being in his most recent run when taking the G3 Darley Stakes at Newmarket.

To date he’s only won £166k in prize money, so a win here will super-boost his earnings.

Alflaila Will Fly The Flag For UK Trainer Owen Burrows

Another Newmarket horse racing trainer sending over a 2024 Bahrain International Trophy runner is Owen Burrows.

He runs the 5 year-old Alflaila, who has won seven of his 17 starts, with his most recent success coming in the G2 York Stakes at the end of July.

This Dark Angel horse was also fourth in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot this season – but was last seen running 12th (of 13) in the Juddmonte International Stakes to a certain City Of Troy.