Denton Hall News

Dods horses withdrawn from Bahrain races as trainer prioritises safety

TRAINER Michael Dods has taken the decision to withdraw two of his best horses from races in Bahrain this week amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The Bahrain Turf Club says it is hoping it will be business as usual for the two-day King’s Cup meeting on Thursday and Friday.

However, Michael, who trains at Denton, near Darlington, says the clear priority is to get his daughter, Chloe, home first followed by Commanche Falls and Northern Express.

“The plan is for Chloe to fly back as soon as possible and we’re hoping the horses will follow pretty soon. The Bahrain authorities are working hard to ensure that happens,” said Michael.

Commanche Falls had been scheduled to run tomorrow (Thursday) with Northern Express entered on Friday. However, the horses will not run due to the uncertainty over the conflict and the lack of available jockeys due to flight cancellations.

“We took the view that Choe has enough on her plate without the added pressure of the horses running again, so we took the decision to call it a day and get everyone back safe as quickly as possible. It was an easy decision to make in the circumstances,” added Michael.

The horses flew to Bahrain in December and have had three runs, with Commanche Falls finishing runner-up twice and Northern Express grabbing a third place.

Both horses are multiple winners, with Commanche Falls making history in 2021 and 2022 as the first back-to-back winner of the Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood in more than half a century.

Chloe, the yard’s assistant trainer, has been staying in Bahrain to oversee the horses’ exercise and races at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club.

“Up until the past week it’s been a worthwhile exercise and good experience for Chloe, but no-one could have envisaged what would happen. It’s taken away from the positives of taking the horses over there and trying something new,” said Michael.

Chloe was forced to move out of her apartment in Seef and stay at a jockey’s house away from the city, after she saw a missile strike a residential area nearby last Saturday evening.

“It was frightening and surreal, and we decided at that moment we should leave the area,” she said at the time.