All eyes on Bahrain

We chat to Salman bin Rashed Al-Khalifa of the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, and look ahead to the second running of the Bahrain International this month

THERE IS EXCITEMENT in the Middle East – the second running of the Bahrain International is less a month away, while the news also filtered through in October that the Saudi Cup is to take place next February.

A zoom conversation with Salman bin Rashed Al-Khalifa, the executive director of Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club in Bahrain, was full of optimism and enthusiasm and busy for the international race, due to take place on November 20.

And there is good reason for the busy executive in Bahrain to be thrilled with race progress – when we spoke after the initial entry stage the race had attracted 61 entries, up from 46 in 2019, from eight different countries, and including seven Group 1 winners.

“We were excited last year for our first race,” says Salman. “We had nine horses from Europe, it was really supported from top trainers such as John Gosden, Roger Varian and Charlie Hills. It was exciting to see their confidence, and it was a great experience for all involved.”

Success in year two relies on the success of year one and confidence from connections and horsemen that the journey to Bahrain was suitable for their charges.

As the racecourse management realised, that initial experience was vital to secure the ongoing support from that important and critical stakeholder.

Jockeys at last year's Bahrain International

“I really believe that word of mouth is the strongest source of marketing in this industry,” reasons Salman. “A lot of people are due to come back, are very positive about what they experienced and that is why we have got more attention this year.

“I am in touch with most of the people that attended last year, with any new trainers coming for the first time and with Adrian Beaumont of the IRB, he is a superstar and is doing a lot to support our race.

“We are also very happy with the team we have in place – Phil Smith, who is a consultant to REHC, he has been with us for the past three years handling the handicapping and is involved in the invitation process.

“We are very excited this year to see even more confidence and trust from the European racing community towards racing in Bahrain.

“During the winter season in Europe it is quiet and I think our race is well positioned right at the end of the European season

“We received 61 entries, a strong list of horses headed by Barney Roy. He is great horse to have – he is four-time Group 1 winner, he is a very popular name, and I think he is going to be a tough horse to beat. He is a really good horse and he is a well-travelled horse.

“Billesden Brook is a beautiful mare, a Group 1 winner herself, and the filly Lady Wannabe. She won the Darley Stakes and we chose the race as an automatic entry for our race – it is a similar distance and a Group 3, which we thought would be a competitive race and we wanted the winner to be part of our race.

Royal Julius wins last year’s race under Stephane Pasquier for his Marseille-based trainer Jerome Reynier ahead of the Godolphin/Gosden colt Turgenev

“Global Giant is a very popular horse as well – he is trained by John Gosden and owned by His Highness Isa Salman Al Khalifa.

“He is a very consistent horse, is in-form, he has won over the same distance, and should be competitive as well.

“The top 20 horses entered are rated 110 or above, that is really good news for us. This is our main target – we want to host an international race that will have a high-calibre horse participating.”

The race conditions are as last year, and in spite of the wide global economic troubles of 2020, the racecourse management has kept prize-money on a par with 2019 (£500,000)

“Our target is to position ourselves on the global racing calendar, that is our main target,” continues Salman, adding: “We want our race to become one of the key races on the calendar that any trainer would want to be part of. Looking at how the race is going right now, it is only going to grow stronger.”

THERE ARE growing opportunities for various racing organisations in the Middle East to pull together a cohesive plan, and a race programme for all to work together. And, while there are likely to be planning difficulties with such a concept, it is already underway.

“Definitely, we been talking closely to UAE and Saudi and I honestly believe there are a lot of people wanting to be a part of the racing in this region, and there is so much potential,” explains Salman.

“During the winter season in Europe it is quiet and I think our race is well positioned right at the end of the European racing season and very convenient for trainers to prep their horses to come.

“Saudi Arabia was a huge success – it was very exciting to see all these big trainers and owners coming from all around the world to be part of the meeting. It is beneficial for all, and that is what we all want. If is going to cater to a market that wants to come and race in differing jurisdiction, then why not?”

Ensuring that all goes right for the horse and connections from start of the trip to the finish was always a priority last year for Salman and his team, and that attention to detail was recognised by last year’s travellers and will be repeated this year.

Pasquier takes the plaudits in the Sakhir racecourse winner’s enclosure

“We were very happy to see that all local officials in charge of cargo and customs were so helpful and they understood what it meant, that it was a big event,” recognises Salman. “For the visitors it took 40 mins from the touch down to leaving the airport – all documentation, passport, customs – it was a very smooth process and everyone was happy with the experience.

“We had a lot of meetings prior to therace with the officials, and we tried to make them understand the success of the race relies on proving a good experience throughout – right from flying in, and out. It is our goal to give the right impression and make sure everyone leaves with a very positive experience.

“The airport staff were very understanding and I have to thank them they did a wonderful job. I was on site and I was very happy with what I saw.”

The effort was not wasted, as Salman smiles: “It was a really nice feeling to see how the owners and trainers reacted to their visit, with the emails and messages from connections. I have comments such as, ‘Bahrain was a great surprise!’ and ‘Bahrain is going to be a destination where I would want to holiday’. It does such a lot of Bahrain, it is not just the racing.”

Obviously, 2020 has the added difficulties of working with COVID-19, but Salman is happy that any issues have been addressed and all visitors will feel safe and will be kept safe.

“We have already lined up a plan with the airport officials,” he explains. “Visitors will be tested at the airport, head directly to the hotel, get the results in a few hours, and can leave all being well. It will be very convenient and I don’t see any issues.

“Of course, the government is studying the situation every week, come November 20 a lot of things might have changed and improve; let’s hope these restrictions might ease as our numbers are dropping down and we are maintaining considerably low numbers compared to a lot of countries.”

At present the racing is planned to be behind closed doors, though decisions will run right to the wire depending on the government, and Salman, of course, is keen if at all possible to welcome crowds to Sakir racecourse for its big day.

It means that TV coverage is vitally important, but that was covered off last year with the race aired alongside RMG to 60 countries achieving a viewership of 130 million.

Talks are in place to gain greater TV exposure for the racing as a whole in the country, and once some administrative details are cleared it is something that is a definite goal.

“Our season lasts from November to end of April, and we host 26 meetings,”outlined Salman. “We usually have seven to eight per day, three races for local breds only, three to horses imported and one race for Arabians.

“It would be really nice to showcase our races abroad, we are working on that and it should get done soon. Many owners have imported a lot of high-calibre horses into Bahrain and year by year the horses that are being imported are getting very competitive and are strong, highly-rated horses. It is great.”

And the wider participation globally is important to Bahrain as a whole – Golden Horde providing that first Royal Ascot winner last June to Bahraini owner Al Mohamediya Racing an help setting an important stepping stone to wider involvement on the world stage.

“It is nice to see the Bahrain flag at big meetings such as when Golden Horde won the Commonwealth Cup,” smiles Salman. “That was a big day for Bahrain and everyone here very happy to see a Bahrainowned horse win.”

Horseracing for Bahrian, both domestically and via participation abroad, is seen as an important vehicle for many goals.

“I debate anyone about the industry – racing is a strong industry and it will stay strong, you just needed to look at the results at the recent Tattersalls yearling sale!” smiles Salman.

“Everyone expected prices to drop, when a look at the figures tells you how strong the industry is.

“Our international race has a lot of advantages – it is good for tourism, it attracts foreign investment, it markets Bahrain globally, we gain a lot of advantages just by hosting.

“I think we ticked most of the boxes last year.”

All is set for year two, with the same quarantine regime in place and new COVID-19 testing protocols organised for visitors on arrival at the airport