Mirroring the move of Beylerbeyi in the previous race, Royal Champion (Shamardal) burst up the stands' side rail in upper stretch and onto even terms with eventual fourth-place finisher Lambourn (Australia), before rocketing away to win the G1 Bahrain International Trophy on Friday.The second repeat winner of the race after Spirit Dancer (Frankel) in 2023/2024, the Karl Burke runner held off the hard-charging Zaydann (Dubawi) by 1 1/4 lengths at the wire, with fellow French runner Baroud (Frankel) third by 1 1/2 lengths. Lambourn, the only horse to stick around after pressing the pace, was fourth, another 2 1/2 lengths back. The Ballydoyle runner was unable to give Aidan O'Brien a record-breaking 29th Group 1 winner in a calendar year.Stable jockey Clifford Lee gained some measure of redemption aboard the winner, having been out of commission after a motorbike accident before last year's running.The final time for the 2000 metres on turf was 2:01.57.O-Executors of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid. B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid (Ire). T-Karl Burke. Royal Champion storms to back-to-back wins in the Bahrain International Trophy! @karl_burke https://t.co/hqvm36DKPm— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 13, 2026The post ‘Absolutely Bolted Up’: Royal Champion Repeats In Bahrain International Trophy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.