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| Staff Writer |
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Three of Bahrain's most prestigious races have earned significant upgrades following an Asian Pattern Committee review, marking a pivotal moment in the kingdom's racing evolution.
The King's Cup, elevated to Group Three status, headlines these promotions. This prestigious mile-and-a-half contest, carrying a purse of US$200,000, joins both the Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup and Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup in receiving pattern race recognition, with both achieving Listed status.
This enhancement follows the 2023 promotion of the Bahrain International Trophy to Group Two level. Last year's renewal attracted top-class competitors, with Spirit Dancer claiming victory ahead of Israr and Point Lonsdale. The 2024 edition, scheduled for November 15 at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club, has drawn entries from ten Gr.1 winners among its 61 contenders.
The King's Cup's most recent victor, Isle Of Jura, trained by George Scott for Victorious Racing, showcased the race's quality by later securing the Gr.2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Notable previous winners include Desert Encounter (2022), who had also claimed the Canadian International, and Certain Lad (2021), winner of the Gr.3 Strensall Stakes.
The newly Listed Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, run over 2,200m in February, has proven a stepping stone to greater success, as demonstrated by Isle Of Jura's victory en route to King's Cup glory. Meanwhile, the Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, now also Listed and contested over a mile in December, has been dominated by local star Byline, who followed his third consecutive victory with a creditable third in a Gr.2 event in Riyadh.
These upgrades bring Bahrain's international pattern race total to six, including The Crown Prince's Cup (Listed) and Al Methaq Mile (Listed). The transformation is particularly noteworthy considering the kingdom had no internationally recognised races before the Bahrain International Trophy's inception in 2019.
Bahrain Turf Club CEO Yusuf Buheji's comments reflect the ambitious vision: "Under the leadership of the club's chairman, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, our ambition is to continue the development of horseracing in Bahrain and be a jurisdiction that stands alongside the world's best. To do this, we strive to host consistently high calibre races, attracting increasingly high-quality domestic and international challengers.
"Therefore, we are delighted that the progress made in raising the quality of our premier races has been recognised by the Asian Pattern Committee.
"The upgrades underline how our investment in developing an attractive international programme, coupled with increased prize money for locally trained horses, has delivered on our objective of raising both the quality and competitiveness of racing in Bahrain. Through further investment, we are confident that future initiatives will lead to Bahrain becoming a leading light for horseracing in the region."
The 2023-24 season witnessed unprecedented international participation, with 38 overseas runners competing across the programme, securing 13 victories between nine individual horses. Looking ahead, the 2024-25 season promises further enhancement with new floodlight installation and an expanded Bahrain Turf Series, now valued at over US$1million.