Destination Bahrain: Can The Veteran Add Another Chapter?
Globe-Trotting Veteran Targets US$1 Million Bahrain Prize
The 7YO gelding who has already raced across three continents is preparing for his biggest challenge yet. Royal Champion, trained by Karl Burke at his Middleham yard in North Yorkshire, will represent Britain at the US$1 million Gr.2 Bahrain International Trophy on November 14 after securing automatic qualification through his third-place finish in the Gr.1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes last month.
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and racing in the distinctive yellow silks with black dots, the son of Shamardal has become racing's ultimate traveler. From winning at Royal Ascot to finishing runner-up in Canada's biggest turf race, from campaigning in Australia to competing at Leopardstown, Royal Champion has proven his versatility and toughness. Now, with six career victories under his belt, including the Gr.2 York Stakes and Gr.3 Winter Derby, he faces a maximum field of 14 runners from 68 international entries in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Burke is confident his charge can handle the assignment. "He is a nice horse. He's a good-looking horse. He moves well, and he's done nothing but keep improving," the trainer said, reflecting on the gelding's progress. The journey from maiden winner to Group-level performer has been unconventional, but Royal Champion retains the ability to compete at the highest level.
A Pedigree Built For Success
Royal Champion carries a pedigree that promised quality from the outset. His sire Shamardal was European champion 2YO in 2004, capturing the French Derby, French 2000 Guineas, and St. James's Palace Stakes before becoming one of Europe's leading stallions. With 1,069 winners from 1,758 named foals, Shamardal's 60.1 per cent winners-to-foals ratio speaks to his consistency.
The dam Emirates Queen brings even more firepower. A Group Two winner of the Lancashire Oaks, she is a half-sister to the legendary Dubawi and descends from Zomaradah, winner of the Oaks d'Italia. This combination of Shamardal's speed and Emirates Queen's stamina has produced a genuine middle-distance performer.
As a homebred for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, Royal Champion was never offered at public auction.
He was bred specifically to race within the Sheikh's operation, and after early struggles under Roger Varian, a gelding operation proved the turning point. His first significant success came in the 2022 Listed Doonside Cup at Ayr, but it was his triumph in the 2023 Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot that announced his arrival as a stake’s performer. The victory gave jockey Jack Mitchell his first Royal Ascot winner.
Three Continents, One Warrior
Few horses have covered as much ground as Royal Champion. His autumn 2023 campaign took him to Woodbine in Canada for the Gr.1 Canadian International Stakes, where Nations Pride overtook him in the closing stages. The defeat, though heartbreaking, proved his ability at the highest level.
The gelding then traveled to Australia, joining Anthony and Sam Freedman, the trainers who had masterminded Without A Fight's Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double. Royal Champion finished second in the Gr.2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley, though wet track conditions in Brisbane ultimately ended that campaign. He requires firm ground to show his best form.
Burke took over training duties in late 2024 and immediately found success on all-weather surfaces. Royal Champion won the Listed Quebec Stakes at Lingfield on New Year's Eve, then captured the Gr.3 Winter Derby at Southwell in February, maintaining an unbeaten synthetic record. But his crowning moment came on turf at York in July.
"We were the horse to beat, and we were pretty confident going in that he'd run a very good race," Burke recalled of the Gr.2 York Stakes. "Maybe the way he won, how easily he won, was a surprise, but not that he actually won." Royal Champion scored by two and three-quarter lengths, with Clifford Lee reporting it was the best turn of foot he had felt from the gelding.
Leopardstown Performance Earns Golden Ticket
The York victory set up Royal Champion for a tilt at Group One glory. Though he finished third behind Delacroix in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September, the performance earned him an automatic qualification for Bahrain.
"Obviously, he was in a Group One, which was very strong, and he performed really well again," Burke said. "He was only beaten three lengths by Delacroix, and Delacroix actually interfered with him early on in the race. Otherwise, I think he might have been a little bit closer. Since then, he has had a nice, easy week or two, and now he's in preparation for Bahrain. He looks in great shape. We're very happy."
The Bahrain International Trophy, first run in 2019 and upgraded to Group Two status in 2023, distributes its US$1 million prize fund with US$394,000 to the winner. Run over 2,000 meters at Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, last year's race was won by Spirit Dancer, trained by Richard Fahey, who became the first horse to win the event twice.
Early Departure Presents No Concerns
The UK contingent travels to Bahrain on November 5, nine days before the race. Earlier than Burke would prefer, but not a cause for alarm, given Royal Champion's experience.
Burke said when asked about potential challenges:"You never know with horses when you're traveling. You always have to expect the unexpected. But he's traveled a lot. He's been to Woodbine in Canada, he's been to Australia, and obviously, we've campaigned him in Europe as well. He travels very well, so there'll be no problems traveling-wise."
Burke's preparation strategy accounts for the extended stay. "All his main work will be completed this week, really, his pieces of work this week, and on Tuesday before he travels. Then he'll have a nice, easy week once he lands in Bahrain. We'll get out there on Monday night to see him do a little bit of work on Tuesday morning before the race."
The trainer, making his first visit to Bahrain, is optimistic about conditions. "He should acclimatize well. A week is ideal before a run. As I say, we don't have to do much work while we're there. We just keep him happy. Hopefully, he eats and drinks, that's always very important on these travel trips. As long as he does that, I have no fears about the ground. The ground should be beautiful. They tell me the surface is good. We're looking forward to the trip."
Burke-Sheikh Mohammed Partnership Flourishing
Royal Champion's Bahrain assignment will be his only autumn target outside Britain, despite Burke's ambitions for Hong Kong.
" I was very keen to take him out to Hong Kong, but his owner, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, is not so keen on traveling his horses," Burke explained. "I'm just happy that he's permitted me to run him in Bahrain. There would have been a very nice race in Hong Kong for him over a mile and a quarter, but he will come back straight to England. That's the plan at the moment."
The relationship between trainers and owners has grown significantly. "We have a lot of horses for Sheik Mohammed Obaid," Burke said. "We've bought him six again this year. We had about 20-plus horses in training for him this year, and we'll probably have 25 in training for him next year. We've been very lucky. He's been a big supporter of ours for the last three or four years."
Recent yearling purchases have further strengthened the stable. "We bought some nice yearlings. I bought two beautiful Night of Thunder colts for Sheik Mohammed Obaid at Book One. We're very excited about them. But we have a big team of older, very good horses for next year. Hopefully, the yearlings will prove worth their money as well."
Can The Veteran Maintain His Form?
At seven, rising eight, Royal Champion faces younger rivals in a competitive field that includes five Group One winners, 14 Group Two winners, and 53 stakes winners from seven nations. The UK leads with 24 entries, followed by Japan with 14 and France with 11. Notable challengers include Economics, trained by William Haggas, who won last year's Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, and Isle Of Jura, trained by George Scott, successful four times in Bahrain during the 2023-24 season.
Burke is realistic about expectations for his older campaigner. "It would be a big ask to say that a 7YO, rising 8YO gelding is going to keep improving, but I think he can hold this level of form for another season," he said. "Hopefully, he obviously likes our routine and what we do with him. He's in good shape. But as long as he holds form for Bahrain, I'll be happy."
With six career victories across distances from one mile to one mile four furlongs, Royal Champion has defied the odds throughout his career. From early struggles to international success, from multiple trainers to finding his niche with Burke, the gelding represents the classic late developer who refused to give up.
The maximum field of 14 runners will contest the Bahrain International Trophy in November , and Royal Champion will carry Britain's hopes alongside entries from across the globe. Whether he can add another chapter to his remarkable story remains to be seen, but one thing is sure. This well-traveled warrior has already proven he belongs on racing's biggest stages.