Thursday 19 November 2020 14:28, UK
John Gosden and Frankie Dettori can look forward plenty of local support when they team up with Global Giant in the Bahrain International Trophy on Friday.
Bought primarily with this race in mind out of Ed Dunlop's yard by Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa - a driving force behind the event - the five-year-old has won two of his four starts for current connections.
A Listed winner in July, the Shamardal entire was bogged down by heavy ground at Haydock in a Group Three last time out.
Assistant trainer Thady Gosden said: "Global Giant was purchased by HH Shaikh Isa and Jake Warren with this race in mind.
"He won the Listed Steventon Stakes at Newbury before unfortunately encountering unsuitably soft ground at Haydock on his last start. Ideally, we'd have had a prep race before this, but the ground went at the end of the season, so we thought the best thing to do was to leave him and bring him here fresh.
"His work here has been good. The turf track here is world class and he's enjoyed the faster ground. We are drawn five which we are happy about. They say the inside of the track is where you want to be."
"It would be wonderful to win the race for His Highness Shaikh Isa, this race was his brainchild so it would mean a lot to him."
Aidan O'Brien has his first runner in Bahrain in the shape of last year's Irish Derby winner Sovereign.
He was last seen running over two miles on Champions Day at Ascot.
"I don't think he ran too bad at Ascot, he just got tired late on," said O'Brien.
"He seems in good form since and he should like the ground.
"This is 10 furlongs so we'll find out a lot, he's in good order. He's going there quite a fresh horse and he's lightly raced. It looks a very good track and everyone is very positive about it."
Andrew Balding's Bangkok ran in the Derby last year and was second in the King Edward VII Stakes, but he has not been seen since finishing last in the Eclipse to Ghaiyyath due to injury.
"He had two tough assignments in the UK this year in very strong Group Ones. He actually ran quite well in the Coral-Eclipse and wasn't beaten far by six very high-class horses," said Balding.
"He threw a splint which is quite a common injury, but less common with older horses like him. He was very sore, and we had to give him plenty of time, but we've been very happy with him since he came back into training. He's coming here pretty much match fit.
"This race has been the target ever since we realised that we'd have to sit out the bulk of the summer season at home. We ran Pivoine here for King Power (owners). I'd say Bangkok is probably a cut above Pivoine but he'll need to be."
Mick Channon's Certain Lad was unplaced under a big weight in the Cambridgeshire last time out but prior to that had won the Strensall Stakes at York.
Assistant trainer Jack Channon said: "We're very happy with him. He's a very good traveller who takes it all in his stride. He's been very relaxed since he came over and has eaten and trained well since he got off the plane.
"You'd have to say his performance in the Strensall was a career best, he beat some nice horses that day and we're hoping he can keep progressing from there.
"To win the Bahrain International Trophy would be fantastic. We all know that money talks and it helps to run the business. Chris (Hurst, owner) has been a great supporter of ours and has quite a few horses in training and to be able to have a go at pots like this can really help people like him stay in the game."
Hollie Doyle teams up with the Japanese star Deirdre in what is set to be her final run before retirement.
The daughter of Harbinger has campaigned almost exclusively in Europe for the past two years and has a Group One win at Goodwood to show for her efforts, but has been bogged down by soft ground on more than one occasion.
Assistant trainer Yoshi Hashida said: "Her condition going into the Arc was perfect, but the heavy ground went against her. The French horses coped with it better.
"Her two Group One wins came on right-handed tracks at Kyoto and Goodwood. The long straight at Sakhir will suit her. The track looks very fair and we like the firm ground that we will get. We are very excited to take part in the race."
Deirdre has been ridden by Oisin Murphy and latterly Jamie Spencer but Hashida is excited at linking up with Doyle, who has enjoyed a stellar season.
"We've seen that Hollie Doyle is one of the best jockeys in Britain this season," he said.
"Deirdre is now six and she is a very clever horse, we need something fresh to energise her and that is why we feel that Hollie is an ideal jockey for her. We have found that when a female work rider rides her, that suits her better.
"Mitsuru (Hashida) has said that this will likely be Deirdre's last race. We are emotional that this journey is almost over."
