LOCAL hearts were broken when fan favourite Rustang, setting a storming pace for the 10-furlong contest, was collared in the shadow of the post and could only finish third behind the overseas challengers Royal Julius and Turgenev in the inaugural Bahrain International Trophy yesterday.

The £500,000 pot drew an international field but victory was claimed with a staying performance by the Irish-bred Royal Julius, a son of Royal Applause produced by Old Carhue Stud.

The win was one of the most important in the burgeoning career of trainer Jerome Reynier, and it came from the horse who gave the young handler his first group win in the Group 2 Premio Presidente della Repubblica last year.

Royal Julius has notched up plenty of travel miles and earlier this year was runner-up in Doha, Qatar, while he has also raced in Italy on many occasions and at Ascot. Winning rider Stephane Pasquier was in the saddle on the six-year-old for the first time in the horse’s 31-start career.

Another finishing like a steam train was the John Gosden-trained three-year-old Turgenev under Richard Havlin, carrying the colours of Godolphin for the first time. The son of Dubawi has yet to land a big prize and for the fourth time he came agonisingly close. Sheikh Hamdan’s Afaak, a runner from the Charlie Hills year, was fourth.

Spare ride

Trainer Allan Smith looked set for a long way to gladden the packed stand with the fine display from the four-year-old Holy Roman Emperor gelding Rustang. This seven-time winner, a spare ride for Lee Newman who replaced Gerald Mosse, was officially rated 8lb behind the winner, but this career-best performance will have pleased the race organisers.

Sadly, the race was delayed significantly following an accident to the Irish-bred Euginio as the runner was heading out to the track with Irishman Paddy Mathers in the saddle.

The Fawzi Nass-trained five-year-old, a five-time winner and formerly trained by Richard Hannon, was purchased for 400,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale last year. On his last start he was fourth behind Rustang back in March.