Quartet out to break new ground in Bahrain

A four-strong challenge will be hoping to provide Godolphin with a first success in Bahrain this Friday, with Barney Roy, Zakouski, Magny Cours and Dubai Future all lining up in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy.

All four horses have already posted significant performances in Dubai over the past few seasons, including Barney Roy taking the 2020 G1 Jebel Hatta and Magny Cours finishing third behind Mystic Guide in this year’s G1 Dubai World Cup.

A return to Meydan could be on the cards for the quartet in the new year, with Friday’s race also offering qualification for the G3 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Native Trail’s brilliant unbeaten season saw the juvenile receive the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt accolade at Wednesday’s Cartier Racing Awards. The dual G1 winner looks certain to be crowned European Champion two-year-old when the official classifications are announced in January.

An exciting list of two-year-olds in the UK continues to grow, with Independent Act and Ghaiyyath’s full-brother Al Nafir both recording recent wins on the all-weather.

Sundappled also looks a juvenile with a hugely promising future after easily scoring in a dirt maiden in Japan on Saturday.

In the same country, Soft Fruit returned to the level of form that saw her place in the G1 Shuka Sho last season with a fine fourth in Sunday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.