Overview
- The Group 2 feature is scheduled for 4.40 at Sakhir under lights in its seventh running, with £480,000 to the winner in a field of eight that includes seven internationals and one home runner.
- Karl Burke’s Royal Champion heads the market after strong summer form, having impressed in track preparations and securing James Doyle for the ride.
- Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras arrives fresh after missing the Champion Stakes and brings standout form from the Dante and a Great Voltigeur win.
- Lion’s Pride completed a racecourse gallop at Sakhir and makes a first overseas start for John and Thady Gosden, whose stable has posted four previous runner-up finishes in this race.
- Analysts flag the likely tempo as pivotal given a mix of 1m2f specialists such as Royal Champion and rivals proven over further, with Persica drawing attention under Oisin Murphy.