Spirit Dancer strikes back-to-back in the Bahrain International Trophy

Run under lights for the first time, the $1-million Gr.2 Bahrain International Trophy featured some familiar faces in the winner's circle once the dust settled, as co-breeder Sir Alex Ferguson, and co-owners Ged Mason and Peter Done's Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Queen's Dream {Ger}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) became the first dual winner of the 2000-metre affair at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club in Bahrain on Friday.

Taken from Thoroughbred Daily News, 16th November 2024; by Heather Anderson

Just like the 2023 edition, the gelded son of Frankel defeated a runner sent out by John and Thady Gosden, with Juddmonte homebred and early stretch leader Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) succumbing in the final 75 metres to the determined drive of the winner. Victorious Racing's Group 1 winner Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) was third.

Winning the break from stall 11, the same gate as in 2023, Spirit Dancer drifted back through the field under Oisin Orr and stayed there for much of the contest. Mounting a challenge on the final turn, he gained on the leaders with every stride upon straightening out in the centre of the course, and unleashed an irresistible rally to prevail inside the final half-furlong.

“It's unbelievable, he was so far behind I said 'he's not going to do it',” said former football exec Ferguson. “I don't know where he got it from. It was fantastic and he's a fantastic jockey [Oisin Orr].

“He's had to find something like four lengths to catch the leading horse and somehow he got there. It was fantastic and I'm really proud of him and proud of the jockey because he sat motionless and didn't panic at all.”

Mason added, “You think lightning wouldn't strike twice but it has today and it is a fantastic feat what Richard and the team back home have done.

“Credit to them for getting him back from his injury [after Dubai], it's fantastic. I'm so happy for this fella [Ferguson], who bred him and last year it was a bit of a tonic after we sadly lost Lady Cathy [Ferguson's late wife], who we said rode him last time and I think she rode him again.”

The 2023 Gr.3 Strensall Stakes hero ran fourth in the Gr.1 Jebel Hatta after his Bahrain heroics. He was back in the winner's circle in Saudi Arabia's Gr.2 Neom Turf Cupi in February on the Gr.1 Saudi Cup undercard, before unplaced runs in the Gr.1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March and, after being diagnosed with a chip in a joint, the Gr.3 Darley Stakes in the wake of Lead Artist at Newmarket in October.

Pedigree Notes

Former champion sire Frankel has sired 152 stakes winners, 102 at the group level. A total of seven of his stakes-winning progeny are out of fellow Juddmonte stallion Oasis Dream mares, with the showrunner of that bunch Gr.1 Prix de la Foret heroine Kelina (Ire).

The third foal and one of five winners for his unraced dam, Spirit Dancer's latest half-sibling is the Stradivarius (Ire) filly foal Harmony Row (GB).

Second dam Quetena (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) placed in a listed race in Italy before foaling a quartet of stakes winners. Three of them were group class or better–Italian Group 1 winner and sire Querari (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), fellow sire and Gr.3 Bavarian Classic victor Quasillo (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and the stakes-producing Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) all won at least one race at the group or graded level. The last-named mare triumphed in the Gr.2 Ballston Spa S. and Gr.2 Canadian S., and Gr.3 Valley View S. and was placed an additional three times at the highest table in the U.S.