Due to “unforeseen circumstances”….
The King’s Cup meeting that was originally scheduled for 5th and 6th March in Bahrain will now take place this coming Thursday and Friday…
Declarations closing through the next hour. Jockey availability a little limited – unsurprisingly. But shows need to go on in the face of disruption and diversity, and all credit to those on the ground who have ensured the care and welfare of our horses since Ben and Harriet got out through Riyadh three weeks ago…
Getting into Bahrain right now is not a cakewalk. The airspace remains closed. And so a flight to Dammam in Saudi Arabia and then a drive across the Causeway into the Kingdom is the best option. The “alternative tourist route” – but a route. And a route that I will travel through Wednesday night…
To saddle our runners, but primarily to thank the staff at the barns and all the folk who have stepped up to several plates in circumstances that nobody envisaged. “Unforeseen” for sure…
Nobody knows when or how this conflict will end. And the talk of troops on the ground hardly implies that this is all over by the weekend. We shall wait and see – and plans for next Winter on the “HaveHorseWillTravel” front will sit in limbo for a while. But if at all possible and feasible, we will of course maintain our long term commitment to the region, and Bahrain in particular….
We have made some long term friends, had some fabulous days on the track, and introduced a huge number of people to racing in the Kingdom. We were pioneers, the first in – here’s hoping that we can be back for many years to come to compete at the superb Sakhir Racecourse. Improvements and innovations every year since our first tiptoe into the sand – a jurisdiction whose commitment to our sport has been rewarded with strong competition and compelling sport…
DESERT COP, GORDON GREY and NESTHORN all declared…
And then hopefully “home safe” on April 7th along with MAX MAYHEM….
It will be fantastic and a relief to have their heads over Downs House stable doors…
