SAKHIR, Bahrain–In front of a lively crowd coming back to life after a Covid hiatus, equestrian Danny Tudhope clinched his only dessert at the G3 Bahrain International Trophy, winning on board. Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Godolphin and Saaeed bin Suroor missed out on glory in last year’s race through injury.
Tudhope didn’t fully bounce back in time to win with teammate Lord Glitters (Fr) 12 months ago but he made the most of the opportunity presented to him by bin Suroor, who finished in two First place in the race, with Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Richard Kingscote leading one-two when finishing halfway back in the £600,000 competition.
Tudhope said of missing out on success with old friend Lord Glitters, with whom he previously won G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Jebel Hatta, “Obviously very disappointed not to be here last year. but it’s great to see the old horse do it again because he is a star for connections. So it’s great to be back here. Godolphin had such a strong hand, so I’m glad one of them won, and that’s my hand.”
For the six-year-old winner Dubai Future, it was a case of returning to familiar territory. In his previous appearance in this race in 2021, he was only able to take eighth place but he has had a fruitful run since, winning his next start in Dubai in January and then starred at Royal Ascot in June, where he won the Wolferton S., also with Tudhope, before adding team slots at the G2 York S. and the G3 Legacy Cup.
The equestrian added, “I was hopeful. His last run wasn’t too bad and he’s in good shape. He also loves to land quickly and he is a handy pony to have. The race went as planned. We galloped evenly and had a nice spot. It was a better draw for him this year and he chose well. He travels very well and comfortably.
Godolphin, who released four horses from three different stables, including Magny Cours trained by Andre Fabre (Medaglia d’Oro) and the Royal Fleet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) trained by Charlie Appleby, occupying three of the first four positions. The lackluster leader Magny Cours finished in fourth, after finishing third in last year’s race, while Grand Prix de Vichy winner Riocorvo (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}), one of three challenged the Frenchman, having interrupted the blue jacket crowd by going home strong in third place for coach Carlos Laffon-Parias.
Bin Suroor, who had arrived from Dubai a few days earlier to oversee the final preparations of his two runners, said: “Both horses took part in a big race. Dubai Future was here last year and his fitness has improved. I spoke to the jockey before the race and told him he was a different horse from last year and let him come handy. He is a tough horse and also more competitive.
“I am very pleased with the result; It’s great that Godolphin is coming to these international races and doing well.”
genealogical notes
A second generation Godolphin hybrid, Dubai Future is the second foal of Anjaz (Street Cry {Ire}), a UK treble winner who won the GIII Orchid S. at the Gulfstream member. The 13-year-old mare, by far the dam of four winners, is the daughter of Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), the three-part sister bred by Robert Sangster to Group 1 winners, Nathaniel (Ire) and Great Heavens (GB), both by Galileo (Ire), who was purchased for $10.5 million in Keeneland in 2007. Anjou’s oldest child is Winter’s Love (Ire) ( The juvenile god of invincibility {Ire}) who has so far run once for Charlie Appleby.
