Irish interest expanding in Bahrain this winter Bahrain is becoming an increasingly popular international horseracing destination and a number of Irish-trained horses will be campaigned in the Persian Gulf state this winter. Ross O’Sullivan had a number of runners there last winter and again plans to bring out Warrior Brave while the Conyngham Lodge team of Tracey Collins and Michael Halford will run the progressive Slieve Binnian. Halford said: "We are going to take Slieve Binnian out to Bahrain. We thought of bringing Ceallach, but we are bringing Slieve Binnian. "I think he will enjoy the surface - good ground and a mile and a-quarter is a good trip for him. There's a couple of races for him over that trip. "The prize money is good and a lovely place, you are very well looked after. "We are regulars in Dubai, but we haven't been to Bahrain to race and I’m looking forward to that. Ross (O'Sullivan) will help us as he has been there before. "My daughter, Leah, is teaching in Abu Dhabi so I'll go to Abu Dhabi for a day or two and meet up with her and then I'll go on to Bahrain." Slieve Binnian won a 19-runner handicap at the Curragh this summer and has scored twice since, again over 1m2f, on the polytrack at Dundalk. Warrior Brave was far from disgraced in three outings at Bahrain last winter and O’Sullivan is again bringing the gelding to the Middle East having won three times this summer at six and seven furlongs. "Warrior Brave will go back to Bahrain,” said the Kill trainer. “It is a great series and I'm surprised more people don't support it. We were really well looked after last year and we are looking forward to going out there again. "It didn't suit Longbourn (last year), he didn't acclimatise to it at all. It suited Warrior Brave well and it worked well when he came back for the summertime. We'll do the same again." Longbourn won at Dundalk in August and carries topweight this evening in the Bar One Racing ‘Always Gamble Responsibly’ Handicap at 7.45. Bahrain today hosts the million dollar Bahrain International Trophy with Point Lonsdale, Above The Curve and Layfayette all providing Irish interest. The Group 2 over 1m2f goes to post just after mid-day Irish time. Quotes by Michael Graham
