Charlie Appleby will go in search of further international honours as he sends Barney Roy and Zakouski to the £500,000 Group 3 Bahrain International Trophy.
Appleby sent out three winners at the Breeders’ Cup meeting in America last week and four-time Group 1 winner Barney Roy is set to lead his challenge for the 10-furlong contest after he returned from a 391-day absence to finish fourth at Newmarket last month.
Stablemate Zakouski also returned from a lengthy layoff to win at Headquarters in October and Appleby hopes the duo can make their mark at Sakhir racecourse next Friday.
He said: “Our plan was to go for the Bahrain International Trophy with Barney Roy last year, but unfortunately on the back of his success in Germany he met with a setback.
“We’ve been purposefully working back from the Bahrain International as it’s a race which is great to be part of. I’d like to think that we’re going to go over there with a competitive horse as well.
“I was pleased with his comeback run in the Group 3 Darley Stakes on a track which doesn’t suit him. We got what we wanted out of it and hopefully he now has his racing brain back and engaged. I think the style of the race will suit him in Bahrain.
“It’s a slick track there and the tight turns will suit him. If he goes there with his old A-game, he’s going to be a big player.”
Godolphin could have another contender in the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Dubai Future, while other British challengers could include the David O’Meara-trained Lord Glitters, Richard Fahey’s Fev Rover, Pogo from Charlie Hills’ yard and the Ralph Beckette-trained Victory Chime.
Andre Fabre’s Magny Cours and Jessica Harrington’s Cadillac are other familiar names entered.
