HOUSTON (Reuters) -Toronto-listed miner Gold Reserve has asked a U.S. federal court to proceed to the final sale hearing that will decide the winner of an auction of shares in the parent of Venezuela-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum, according to a filing.

Gold Reserve's request was filed on Monday, following a notification last week about a competing offer by an unidentified bidder. A $7.4 billion bid by a group led by a subsidiary of the miner was recommended last month as the winner of the bidding round, but the judge in Delaware must still decide whether to approve it.