It was a second consecutive victory in the Bahrain International Trophy for Richard Fahey’s Spirit Dancer on Friday.
Owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, Fred Done and Ged Mason, the gelding had only run once following a trip to Dubai in March – having picked up an injury during the Neom Cup. He finished well-beaten down the field at Newmarket in the Darley Stakes, but the team were keen to return to Riyadh for a second tilt at the lucrative prize.
Ridden by Oisin Orr, Spirit Dancer had an outside draw from stall 11 and was forced to make up ground in the final turn. Fellow UK-trained runner Lead Artist kicked for home and appeared to have the race at his mercy, yet Spirit Dancer made steady headway on John and Thady Gosden's runner, passing the favourite in the final furlong.
Ferguson said: "It's unbelievable, he was so far behind I said 'he's not going to do it'. I don't know where he got it from. It was fantastic and he's a fantastic jockey.
"He's had to find something like four lengths to catch the leading horse and somehow he got there.
Winning trainer Richard Fahey said: "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.
"The horse was in great form and he loves the place. It's horses for courses and he seems to love this place and the trip is ideal.
"But it was a different race to watch this year. At three out, I thought 'we'll trot up', but then the second horse kicked clear and we were struggling to get by him.
"I was sort of thinking he'd run a good race to finish second but then the last hundred yards I did shout him home – it was wonderful, great. A great race for us to watch anyway, maybe not for the second.
"It's exceptional for us, and what I do like is how much enjoyment Ged, Sir Alex and Peter Done get out of it. They are extremely successful men and to see the enjoyment they get is unbelievable. I'm with them this year and am really, really excited – it's fantastic.
"I want to see how he is after this race but I haven't drawn a line through going to Hong Kong, all his paperwork is in place and I want to go, so we'll see.
"But the most important one is done and anything after this is a bonus."
