International Raiders hit Bahrain Turf Series

The 2025-26 Bahrain Turf Series for 2025-26 is off to a flying start, and it was the Kate McGiven trained Kendall Roy taking out the Al Manama Cup with a fairy tale victory for Husain Makk. 

With Kate having originally booked Oisin Orr for the ride, but when his flight was cancelled it was a supremely confident Husain who had Kendall Roy jumping on-terms from Barrier 9.

Alway prominent in a field of 16, including 9 from England and Ireland, it was Husain who had Kandell Roy challenging at the 200m and in powering the final 100m, scored by a half-length.

Running 59.61s for the 1000 meters on the ‘good’ inner turf track, it was Hugo Palmer filling the placings with Roman Dragon, ridden by Lee Newman, and another half-length to Dubai Bling.

With Kate McGivern also sharing in the ownership, she was full of praise in stating “Husain picked the ride up two hours before the race when I had to make a decision.”

“I must say he gave it an absolute peach from start to finish, he timed it to perfection,” as Kate has only two horses in training at her Rosslare stables in Co Wexford, Ireland.

“This win means everything. He’s the most fun horse, he tries every time he runs. And every time I am under pressure, he pulls it out of the bag for me. I’m so delighted.”

Joining Kate at the Rashid Equestrian and Racing Club was her mother Joanna Morgan, who was the first professional female jockey in Ireland, and trained successfully in Dubai.

A 4yo gelding by the top-line sire Twilight Sun from the winning Invincible Spirit mare Procedure, he’s now won six if his 16 starts and was a 70,000 Gns 2025 Tattersalls Online buy.

The Bahrain’s international season commenced with the two-day National Day Festival and it was the ever present British and Irish horses taking on the locally trained teams.

Staged from December to March its six sprint races and six middle-distance races, each give the Bahrain Turf Series a worth of a minimum of $80,000, plus $40,000 bonuses.

The opening middle-distance race of the Bahrain Turf Series, the Al Muharraq Cup of 2400m was taken out by the George Baker trained Nesthorn in winning by a distancing 2¾ lengths.

In defeating Kevin Ryan’s former dual 2000 Guineas placegetter Hi Royal, it was winning jockey Benoit De La Sayette saying “It was quite a dramatic race, but I had a lovely run.”

“He’s been off the track for quite a while and he was drawn fifteen, so we thought it best to drop in and let him find his feet. galloped right out to the line.”

Assistant Trainer, Candida Baker added “It’s so exciting. He’s only a three-year-old but he’s got such a good mind, he’s so laid back and so easy to do anything with him.”

“Coming to Bahrain has been an absolute privilege for us all of us. My family, my friends and my parents come every year. To have a winner here is great and it’s getting harder.”

The 8yo Byline is near ‘legendary’ in Bahrain and he notched his eighteenth career win and his sixteenth in the Kingdom with the HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup of 1600m.

In defeating No Retreat and Calif, it was trainers Daniel and Claire Kubler who are enjoying their first Stakes win in the Kingdom since they started training for Al Adiyat Racing.

“There is a bit of pressure because everyone loves him here and we love him too,” said co-trainer Dan Kubler said of Byline after the race as “he just loves his racing.”

“He’s a lovely horse as a character, and he’s a brilliant racehorse. He turned in full of running and he knows where the finish line is, and he’s got some unfinished business in Saudi.”

“It’s very special to have our first Stakes winner here in Bahrain,” stated Claire Kubler, “and to have the opportunity to come and train for His Highness Shaikh Isa, and have horses of the calibre of Byline, it’s very special.”