Alex Ferguson may have one of the most decorated careers in football, but he will be breaking new ground when his horse Spirit Dancer lines up for the Bahrain International Cup on Friday.
The total prize money for Group 2 is $1 million, and potential jockey Ferguson has booked his ticket to run in the Strensall Stakes at York in the summer, with horses bred by him and trained by Richard Fahey.
Spirit Dancer now faces the toughest task of his career, going up against a strong cast including Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale and Group 1 winner Above the Curve.
But despite being known as one of the most ferocious players on the touchline, Ferguson looks more relaxed in the paddock before a big race, and has yet to win another international sporting trophy. I believe he will enjoy the opportunity he gets. Frankel’s talented son.
“I think the competitive element of me remained in football,” he said on Racing TV’s Race Day.
“I never question the trainer and I never get mad if the horse loses because it’s a different sport to me. I can’t tell the horse what to do, but… At least we were able to tell the players what to do, and I’m not a judgmental judge in that respect.
“I enjoy being there and of course I get excited when the horses win, especially in the big races.
“Spirit Dancer has given us great joy. I started a stallion and he is the first offspring of that stallion.”
Meanwhile, Spirit Dancer’s trainer is optimistic that the six-year-old’s calm demeanor will be an asset in dealing with the rigors of international competition.
“The goal all season was Bahrain because it’s a million dollar race and it’s a good opportunity with the travel, the track and everything suitable,” Fahey told Great British Racing.
“He’s a very laid-back horse. When you think about international runners, you have to choose the right horse. And this horse has a great head, so I think he’ll probably drive the flight home. .He’s just very laid back and has no problems.”
Defending champion Dubai Future is one of two horses in the race for fellow Real World jockey Saeed Bin Suroor.
They are just two horses in a strong Godolphin Challenge that also features Andre Favre’s jockey Bill Castle and Charlie Appleby’s stables Nations Pride and Highland Avenue.
John Gosden and Sadie Gosden’s Princess of Wales Stakes winner Isler and Noel Meade’s Rayfayette are also participating, while Cambridgeshire winner Astro King has been in great form this season, with Daniel Kubler and Claire・Kubler is looking to end a great year.
Claire Kubler said: “He will be our biggest runner outside of Europe. It’s incredible. It’s very exciting.”
“It’s great that Bahrain can host a race like this to attract international candidates. We hope Astro King does his best and makes us proud.”