O'BRIEN SENDS LAMBOURN TO BAHRAIN IN BID FOR RECORD 29TH GROUP ONE

Aidan O'Brien's pursuit of a new world record moves to the Gulf this week, with 2025 Epsom and Irish Derby winner Lambourn set to represent Ballydoyle in Friday's Bahrain International Trophy. Victory would hand the Irish champion trainer a 29th Group or Grade One success of 2026, taking him clear of the global benchmark of 28 he set in 2017 and matched at the Breeders' Cup at the end of October.

Lambourn has made the trip and O'Brien, in comments carried by the Irish Times, reported that he "seems to have taken his journey well".

Bahrain's first Group One

This year's renewal carries extra significance for the host nation. The 10-furlong contest at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club has been raised to Group One status for the first time, making it Bahrain's first race at the highest level, and its purse has been lifted to $1.5 million. The race drew 69 entries from 10 racing nations. Karl Burke's Royal Champion returns as defending champion, while Wimbledon Hawkeye and Hugo Palmer's Glacius are also among the opposition named.

Lambourn arrives with something to prove. His four-year-old campaign has brought victory in the Huxley Stakes at Chester but no top-level win. He was sent off at 50-1 when fourth to Kalpana in the King George at Ascot in July, beaten two and a half lengths, and later served as pacemaker for Constitution River in the Irish Champion Stakes.

The race for the record

O'Brien's 28th elite-level winner of the year came when Benvenuto Cellini took the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, one of three Grade One victories for the trainer at the meeting. The chances to go one better are running out as the calendar winds down. Hong Kong's international meeting next month is the other obvious target, and Benvenuto Cellini is being aimed there.

O'Brien is not alone in chasing numbers either. According to the Irish Times, Australian trainer Chris Waller sits just one behind on 27 top-flight wins for 2026.