'He's a lovely individual with a huge amount of ability' - Karl Burke out to keep big Bahrain prize in North Yorkshire

There is a small but select turnout of seven internationals plus one home hopeful in the seventh running of the Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy (4.40), worth £480,000 to the winner and run under lights at Sakhir racecourse on Friday.

The British challenge is headed by the classy Royal Champion, who has been ante-post favourite for the contest since the overseas contingent arrived in the Gulf state on November 6.

The seven-year-old will be a first runner in Bahrain for trainer Karl Burke, who is seeking to uphold the fine record of North Yorkshire stables in the $1 million contest following victories for the David O'Meara-trained Lord Glitters (2021) and the prolific Spirit Dancer (2023 and 2024), trained by Richard Fahey.

Royal Champion looked in tremendous shape when shown off to the media at the track on Thursday morning, having completed his preparations on the turf track two days earlier.

The importance of pace

There are two types of runner in the race, those who excel over the 1m2f trip, such as Royal Champion and the Andre Fabre-trained Bright Picture, and those who have winning form over further. 

The latter category includes Pride Of Arras, a second runner in the race for Ralph Beckett, and Lion's Pride, trained by the luckless Gosdens, who have saddled the runner-up four times. This duo may need to put pace in the race to run the finish out of their rivals.

Pride Of Arras canters on the turf track at SakhirCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Key quotes

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Lion's Pride
The turf course is very European, so it makes sense to bring a horse like Lion's Pride, and it fits in well with his season. He's had a light campaign and after he won very well at Newmarket, Mr and Mrs Oppenheimer [owners] made the decision to come here. It's his first time abroad, but he seems to be enjoying it.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Military Order
It is a competitive field, and Military Order has a nice draw in stall two – I would rather be drawn low than towards the outside. He's great shape and doesn’t look out of place in this group. He should hopefully run a very respectable race.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Persica
He can be a bit immature and get a bit hot sometimes, so it's great that the race is in the evening. Stall seven is fine for him, as he doesn't need to do anything early as he has a very good turn of foot. It's my first time here and it's a very exciting race with a lot of horses who could win it.

Karl Burke (right) behind the wheel of a golf buggy at Sakhir racecourseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Karl Burke, trainer of Royal Champion
He works very well in the mornings and you're trying not to do too much with him. He worked very nicely on the turf on Tuesday and since then we've just trotted and hacked him in the yard to keep a lid on him. He's a lovely individual with a huge amount of ability. He ran a great race last time in the Irish Champion Stakes to be beaten just three lengths by Delacroix, who cut him up at the start, so he could have finished closer. Before that he won well at York, and if he's in that kind of form it will be good enough to go close. I'm not sure where the pace is coming from. There are a couple of mile-and-a-half horses in the race and I can't imagine they'd want a slow gallop; if they don't, it's probably playing into our hands a little.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Pride Of Arras
It's been a season of ups and downs for the horse, but he won the Voltigeur [at York] well. He was going to go for the Champion Stakes at Ascot but he pulled a muscle eight days before and I was struggling to get him there. In the end, we felt we'd be better off waiting. He has a fast-ground action but a soft-ground pedigree. He moved well this morning [Thursday] and I quite like putting them on the grass the day before a race. Royal Champion will be tough to beat, but Pride Of Arras should like the track and has a good each-way chance.

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