Quartet out to break new ground in Bahrain

DUBAI: A four-strong challenge will be hoping to provide Godolphin with a first success in Bahrain this Friday, with Barney Roy, Zakouski, Magny Cours and Dubai Future all lining up in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy.

All four horses have already posted significant performances in Dubai over the past few seasons, including Barney Roy taking the 2020 G1 Jebel Hata and Magny Cours finishing third behind Mystic Guide in this year’s G1 Dubai World Cup.

A return to Meydan could be on the cards for the quartet in the new year, with Friday’s race also offering qualification for the G3 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Native Trail’s brilliant unbeaten season saw the juvenile receive the Cartier Two-year-old Colt accolade at Wednesday’s Cartier Racing Awards. The dual G1 winner looks certain to be crowned European Champion two-year-old when the official classifications are announced in January. An exciting list of two-year-olds in the UK continues to grow, with Independent Act and Ghaiyyath’s full-brother Al Nafir both recording recent wins on the all-weather.

Sundappled also looks a juvenile with a hugely promising future ater easily scoring in a dirt maiden in Japan on Saturday.

In the same country, Sot Fruit returned to the level of form that saw her place in the G1 Shuka Sho last season with a fine fourth in Sunday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Meanwhile, unbeaten juvenile Native Trail was honoured at this year’s Cartier Racing Awards, when he was named Cartier Two-year-old Colt.

During an outstanding season, the Charlie Appleby-trained son of Oasis Dream won four times under William Buick, following up an imposing debut success at Sandown Park with a swooping win in Newmarket’s G2 Superlative Stakes.

Native Trail emulated 2019 Champion two-year-old Pinatubo on his two subsequent starts as he completed the same G1 double at the Curragh and Newmarket with impressive displays in both the Vincent O’brien National Stakes and Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

Hugh Anderson, Managing Director of Godolphin (UK and Dubai), said: “Charlie Appleby and William Buick are no strangers to the winner’s circle. For me, it has been an absolute privilege and a pleasure to watch this partnership over the season. British racing has come back really strongly and I think these two deserve a huge amount of credit from all of us.”