HORSERACING – A small but elite team of two horses has been assembled to represent Bahrain at one of the biggest and most valuable meetings in the international racing calendar, the Dubai World Cup night at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday.
Two of Bahrain’s leading trainers are sending their highest-rated horses to fly the flag for the kingdom in Dubai, where the opposition will include some of the world’s best racehorses.
For trainer Haider Ebrahim, it will be the first time he will have saddled a horse on Dubai World Cup night.
The duo team includes Goemon, the recent winner of the Listed Al Methaq Mile, and Calif, runner-up of the Group 2 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Goemon has enjoyed a wonderful season for owner Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim and Ebrahim, winning four times, running well in Saudi Arabia, and rounding off his domestic campaign with an emphatic success in Al Methaq Mile to confirm his status as Bahrain’s leading miler.
In Dubai, Goemon will step up to 1,800 metres when he runs in the $5 million Dubai Turf, a challenge that trainer Ebrahim is very much looking forward to. He said: “We are delighted that Goemon received an invitation for the Dubai Turf, over 1,800m. He is going to face strong opposition, but I think he deserves his chance based on his performances in Bahrain and Saudi.
“This year, he is more mature, a stronger horse. I think the game changer was going to Meydan last season.
“Travelling to Dubai and to Saudi has made him more mature. I think he is going to be good enough to compete, hopefully he is going to finish in the first five, but it will be tough.
“Goemon will be my first runner on Dubai World Cup night, but he is a good horse, he never gives up and we are happy with his work. We are looking forward to it.”
Goemon’s opposition is set to include Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior and Facteur Cheval from France, winner of the Dubai Turf in 2024, along with high-class horses from Japan, the UK, and the locally based UAE runner Nations Pride.
A similarly strong, international field will line up against Calif in the $6m Dubai Sheema Classic, run over 2,400m.
Trainer Fawzi Nass has the distinction of preparing a winner on Dubai World Cup night.
He trained Krypton Factor to win the Dubai Golden Shaheen back in 2012 and this year he saddles Calif for Victorious Racing in the Dubai Sheema Classic. Calif is already a group race winner in France and Germany and he finished a fine second at the Saudi Cup meeting in February. However, Saturday’s race will be his first attempt at 2,400m.
Bahrain Turf Club CEO Yusuf Buheji said: “It is a sign of the progress and strength of Bahrain’s racing that two of our horses have received invitations to run on Dubai World Cup night.
“As a club, we take great pride in their participation at international level and look forward to watching them represent the Kingdom of Bahrain on Saturday.”
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