Royal Julius Pounces Late in Bahrain International Trophy

[Wandering Eyes]

It was almost a fairytale ending for the home team, as Al Adiyat Racing’s Rustang (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) took the field deep into the final furlong of the inaugural Bahrain International Trophy. But Stephane Pasquier managed to conjure up a stinging late run from French raider Royal Julius (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) to scoop the lion’s share of the £500,000 in prize money.

Settled with just a couple behind as Rustang opened a double-digit advantage at midway, Royal Julius had it all to do in upper stretch, but the pacesetter began to shorten stride markedly at the 200m mark and Royal Julius proved the best of the closers in the finish. Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) ran on well to touch Rustang out of second, while Afaak (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) produced a strong finish to be fourth.

Royal Julius, who gave his young trainer a maiden group success in the G2 Premio Presidente della Repubblica in May 2018, was runner-up in the Listed H.H. The Emir’s Trophy this past February. Royal Julius could make a return trip to Doha in early 2020, with Saudi Arabia also an option.

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY (Cond.), £500,000, REHC, 11-22, 2000mT, 2:00.41, gd.
1–ROYAL JULIUS (IRE), 128, h, 6, Royal Applause (GB)–Hflah
(Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). (25,000gns Wlg ’13 TATNOV; €40,000
Ylg ’14 ARQAUG). O-Jean-Jacques Biarese; B-Old Carhue Stud;
T-Jerome Reynier; J-Stephane Pasquier; £250,000. Lifetime
Record: GSW-Ity, SW & MGSP-Fr, SP-Qat, 31-5-8-3, $936,518.
2–Turgenev (GB), 125, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Tasaday, by Nayef.
O-Godophin. £125,000.
3–Rustang (Fr), 128, g, 4, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–
Oppamattox (Fr), by Munir (GB). (€67,000 Ylg ’16 ARQOCT;
42,000gns RNA HRA ’18 TATOCT). O-Al Adiyat Racing. £62,500.
Margins: 3/4, HD, SHD.
Also Ran: Afaak (GB), Intellogent (Ire), Pivoine (Ire), Coolagh Forest (Ire), Aquarium (GB), Thorkhill Star (Ire), Proposed (GB), Sword Peinture (Ger), Vale Do Sol (Ire), Mountain Angel (Ire). Scratched: Euginio (Ire).

WATCH: Royal Julius gets up in the nick of time

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