Bakharoff (foaled 12 February 1983) was an American-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the highest-rated European two-year-old of 1985 when he won the William Hill Futurity and the Chesham Stakes as well as finishing second in the Dewhurst Stakes. As a three-year-old he was overshadowed by his stable companion Dancing Brave, but he showed good form to win the Geoffrey Freer Stakes and finish third in both the Prix du Jockey Club and the Irish Derby. In all, he achieved four wins and seven places in a twelve race career which lasted from April 1985 until September 1986. He later stood as a breeding stallion in New Zealand with modest results.
Background
Bakharoff was a "big, strong, close-coupled" bay horse with a small white star and a white sock on his left hind leg bred by Edward A. Cox Jr. who stabled his mares at the Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky. He was sired by The Minstrel, a Canadian-bred horse who won The Derby in 1977. As a breeding stallion, The Minstrel was not a spectacular success, but he did sire many good winners includingthe Breeders' Cup Mile winner Opening Verse, the 1000 Guineas winner Musical Bliss and the Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner L'Emigrant as well as Palace Music, who won the Champion Stakes and sired Cigar. Bakharoff's dam, Qui Royalty, produced several other winners including the Lockinge Stakes winner Emperor Jones and was a direct descendant of the 1000 Guineas winner Imprudence. One of Qui Royalty's daughter's, Qui Bid, produced the German 1,000 Guineas winner Que Belle.
As a (horse), Bakharoff was consigned to the Keeneland Select sale by Lea Eaton where he was bought for $450,000 by the bloodstock agent James Delahooke, acting on behalf of the Saudi prince Khalid Abdulla. The colt was sent into training with Guy Harwood at Pulborough. At the time, Harwood was noted for his modern approach to training, introducing Britain to features such as artificial gallops and barn-style stabling.
Racing career
1985: two-year-old season
Bakharoff made his racecourse debut when he finished unplaced in a maiden race over the minimum distance of five furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 16 April. A month later he recorded his first victory when easily winning a maiden over the same distance at Sandown Park Racecourse. He was then moved up in class and distance to contest the Chesham Stakes, a Listed race over six furlong at Royal Ascot in June. Bakharoff took the lead at half distance and accelerated away to win impressively by five lengths from Alkaaleel. Many of the horses in Harwood's stable suffered from a viral infection in 1985, and Bakharoff was not at his best in his next race a month later when he finished third to Green Desert and Atall Atall in the Group Three July Stakes at Newmarket.
Bakharoff was off the course for three months before returning in Britain's most prestigious two-year-old race, the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket on 18 October. Ridden by Greville Starkey, he started at odds of 11/1 in a field of eight runners. He tracked the leaders in the early stages but struggled to maintain his position when the pace quickened two furlongs from the finish. Starkey switched the colt to the outside to obtain a clear run and Bakharoff produced a very strong run, making up several lengths and finishing second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner Huntingdale. The favourite Sure Blade finished third, with the Irish-trained Woodman in fifth. Eight days after his defeat at Newmarket, Bakharoff moved up in distance to contest the Group One William Hill Futurity over one mile at Doncaster Racecourse. He started the 2/1 favourite against eight opponents headed by Water Cay and Bold Arrangement, runners-up in the Royal Lodge Stakes and the Grand Critérium respectively. As in the Dewhurst, Bakharoff briefly looked outpaced in the straight but then produced a strong finish despite being hampered by Bold Arrangement. He took the lead inside the final furlong and won by one and a half lengths from the subsequently disqualified Bold Arrangement, with Nomrood two lengths back in third place.