‘Things are starting to come into place - this is just the beginning’

Life in the racing circles of the island kingdom of Bahrain, a small archipelago in the Persian Gulf off the coasts of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is a relaxed affair.

The people – from royalty down to local groundsmen – are humble, friendly and hugely enthusiastic about their horses. As a couple of thoroughbreds trot by at the side of the motorway, it almost resembles a hotter, sandier Newmarket.

Behind the scenes, though, at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC), the body responsible for all administrative aspects of racing in Bahrain, the powers that be are far from relaxed as they accelerate their mission to establish Bahrain as a serious player on the international circuit.