William Buick is hoping to win the Bahrain International Trophy for the first time as his Mount Nations Pride looks to bring further success to Godolphin in the $1 million contest.
Twelve months ago, it was Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Future who led the one-two in the Sheikh Mohammed race, and this time stablemate Real World will join him in the final field.
But it will be jockey Charlie Appleby’s Nations Pride that will set the standard following big race wins at Munich and Woodbine this season, while Godolphin number one jockey Buick will be riding for fellow Moulton Paddox candidate Highland Avenue. Instead, I chose him as my partner for this 4-year-old horse.
Buick said: “Nations Pride is a very good horse. He’s a classy three-year-old who went into the 2021 Derby as a real favorite but probably wouldn’t have stayed on the day.
“But he has always been highly rated and has performed really well since then.
“He gave me a really good feeling when he won Group 1 in Germany. Although it wasn’t to my liking, I still won.
“He’s a very easy horse to ride. I haven’t had much luck in previous races, but this one is different. He’s a mile and quarter specialist and I think he’s a really good candidate.
“Nations Pride is my best chance at the Bahrain International Cup, but it’s a very competitive field with a strong line-up, a good field and I need to get the margin in my favor.”
Additionally, Andre Fabre’s Bill Castle will represent Godolphin, while Andreas Schütz’s French 2000 Guineas hero Marhaba ya Sanafi will also represent France in a race with a truly international flavour.
Aidan O’Brien prepares to saddle Point Lonsdale in a contest that will retain Group 2 status for the first time this year, along with other Irish challengers in Joseph O’Brien’s Above the Curve and Noel Meade’s Layfayette is completed.
John and Sadie Gosden’s Israel, Daniel and Claire Kubler’s Astro King and Richard Fahey’s Spirit Dancer will also line up for the fifth race of the contest at Sakhir Racecourse. is.