Michael Owen on his love for racing, growing a successful stable and targeting glory in Bahrain

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Michael Owen’s eyes are glinting in the early morning sun at the Bahrain Equestrian and Horseracing Club as he reflects on his good fortune in life.After becoming one of the great…

Michael Owen’s eyes are glinting in the early morning sun at the Bahrain Equestrian and Horseracing Club as he reflects on his good fortune in life.

After becoming one of the great England forwards of all time and the winner of the Ballon d’Or at only 21 during a glittering career, Owen has gone on to write a very successful second chapter as the owner of a top-class racing stables in Cheshire in England where he has 140 horses in training.

“I just feel really lucky that I've been able to have two genuine passions in my life, football and racing,” says the 46-year-old, who won 89 caps for England, scoring 40 goals.

“I wanted to be a footballer all my life. And I managed to do that and that's given me a real leg up in terms of the next stage. What I've done at Manor House Stables isn't so special if you've got a massive passion for it and you're willing to risk and invest.

“I do count my lucky stars that I've had, as I say, two huge passions in my life and every single day I wake up excited to do what I'm about to do that day. So that's a lovely thing to have and obviously, you know, I'm never going to kick a ball again. So, the only thing I can do now is try to grow Manor House.”

Owen is in Bahrain ahead of Friday’s International Trophy, a race this year which has been elevated to Group One status this year, and which carries a purse of $1.5 million.

Two horses from his yard, where Hugo Palmer is the trainer, are in the race which has attracted a strong field from across the world.

Glacius, ridden by England’s champion jockey Billy Loughnane, won the Saratoga Derby in August and is the leading fancy.

The second is Seagull’s Eleven – a horse owned by current and former players at Brighton football club who are riding high in second place in the Premier League. Their captain Lewis Dunk is flying in to watch the race.

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