Under the golden floodlights of The Bahrain Turf Club on Friday, 14 November 2025, racing fans witnessed an evening that felt larger than sport – a night where the world’s finest thoroughbreds converged for pride, prestige, and the biggest prize Bahrain has offered. The spotlight was unshakeably fixed on the 8th Race, the Bahrain International Trophy, run at 7:20 PM over 2000m for an extraordinary USD 1,000,000, a showpiece that drew breathless anticipation across the course long before the gates even opened.
And when the gates finally did fly open, the moment belonged to ROYAL CHAMPION. Delivered with ice-cold precision by jockey James Doyle, the Karl Burke-trained star stretched clear with authority, stamping his class on a race that has quickly become one of the Middle East’s most admired international contests. The roar that echoed across the grandstand marked not just a victory – but a Bahrain racing milestone.
This International Trophy, proudly the richest prize-money race in Bahrain, lived up to every ounce of its reputation. Behind the winner, GALEN produced a stirring late run under Dylan Browne McMonagle to finish second for trainer Joseph O’Brien, while MILITARY ORDER, ridden by William Buick and trained by Charlie Appleby, completed a world-class trifecta worthy of the occasion. It was a finish that captured everything this million-dollar feature stands for: excellence, courage, and true international flair.
Earlier in the day, the action began with the Gulf Air Cup, run at 3:50 PM over 1200m for USD 14,000, where Kuheilan Weld Umm Zorayr, under A. Rahim Jasim for trainer Yousif Taher, kicked off proceedings with a smart, confident win. That momentum carried into the Brown Advisory Cup, held at 4:20 PM over 1400m for USD 16,000, where California, guided by Alberto Sanna and trained by Fawzi Nass, secured a stylish and composed victory. The Lexus Cup, run at 4:50 PM across 1800m for USD 30,000, followed with Midhaal producing a strong and polished performance with Dylan Browne McMonagle aboard for trainer Abdulla Kuwaiti.
Continuing the evening’s rise, the BAPCO Energies Cup at 5:20 PM, spanning 2200m with USD 30,000 at stake, was claimed by Tawaareq, ridden by Stephane Ladjadj for trainer Fawzi Nass, who enjoyed a successful night. The Beyon Cup, run at 5:50 PM over 1200m for USD 16,000, brought a sharp sprinting display from Burdett, piloted by Ebrahim Nader for trainer Ali Jan. The intensity remained high in the Grand Seiko – Bahrain Jewellery Centre Cup, held at 6:20 PM over a blistering 1000m with USD 40,000 up for grabs, where Devaste, under the confident handling of Soufiane Saadi for trainer Osama Hashim, sprinted clear in commanding fashion. Saadi returned to the winner’s enclosure once more in the Economic Development Board Cup, run at 6:50 PM across 1600m for USD 30,000, steering Royal Scimitar to victory for trainer Mohamed Hasan in a perfectly judged ride.
As the night concluded, it was clear that Bahrain had hosted a raceday worthy of international admiration. From the energized undercard to the unforgettable climax of the million-dollar Bahrain International Trophy, the 14th of November 2025 will be remembered as an evening where sport, spectacle, and world-class racing converged in perfect harmony.
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