Bahrain Turf Series: Charlie Appleby breaks new ground with Silent Film

After a year of international winners for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby the operation secured their first ever success in the Kingdom of Bahrain with Silent Film winning the Al Sakhir Cup over 1400m at the finale of the Bahrain Turf Series.

Silent Film just got up on the line in a tight finish winning by head and getting the better of long-time leader Shebil Aljazira. It was a race that trainer Charlie Appleby had targeted for Silent Film who is progressing following a win at Meydan last time out.

Following the success Charlie Appleby said: “He's a horse we pinpointed for the race so we're delighted he's gone and won. It's a great series they have set up in Bahrain and we're just happy that we've been able to find the right horse to come over and be competitive. Everyone is very happy in Dubai, and I'm sure we'll be part of the Turf Series moving forward.”

Winning jockey James Doyle credited the horse and his ability to win races. He said: “One thing he knows for sure is how to win which has stood him in good stead today because it was a rough race in the early stages. He got better as the race progressed and did well to get his head in front.”

On riding in Bahrain he added: “I’ve been lucky enough to come to Bahrain for several years now. It’s been nice to keep coming back and witness how things are progressing. Year on year, the track seems to ride a bit better, and the races seem to be more competitive. I’ve certainly seen a big improvement from the first time I came here and it’s going to be a force to be reckoned with going forward.”

The second Bahrain Turf Series race of the day, the Vision 2030 Cup over 2000m, and the finale of all ten race series, was won impressively by Zagato. The four-year-old, formerly trained in Newmarket by John and Thady Gosden, stormed to the front entering the home straight and won by eased down six and a half lengths over his rivals.

Ridden by Neil Callan and trained by the Hesham Al Haddad and Fawzi Nass operation, Nass said after the race: “Zagato has been an improving horse and he has improved with each start. We’ll see what the handicapper does with him but he’ll probably get an entry into the King’s Cup which is a race run over 12 furlongs so he’ll have a further two furlongs to negotiate.”

Following the finale of the Bahrain Turf Series the horses with the leading overall points from the series were presented with their additional £25,000 in prize money by His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. This was awarded to the owner and trainer of the two horses that accumulated the most points during the series in each distance category, split as £15,000 to the winning owner and £10,000 to the winning trainer. A total of £50,000 additional prize money.

The winner of pot A (6/7f) was Happy Craf for owner M & E Racing and trainer Allan Smith and Arqoob took the top spot of pot B (9/10f) for owner Little Staughton Farms Ltd and trainer William Jarvis.

Music agent extraordinaire Emma Banks, winning connections of Arqoob, was delighted that the consistency of her horse throughout the series could be rewarded. She said: “What a fantastic bonus to keep him out here. He hasn’t won yet but he’s been ultra-consistent and passed a lot of horses. It’s a really interesting way the points have worked out and makes for an interesting end to the series.”

She added: “You can’t be disappointed when you go home with prize money from races, prize money from the league table and a lovely trip to Bahrain.”

William Jarvis, trainer of Arqoob, was delighted with what the four-year-old has achieved in Bahrain and said: “I’m so thrilled his owners have been able to come out and witness this race. I’m very proud of him, he’s been so consistent and the support I’ve had from Richard, his owner, has been massively appreciated.”

The winner of pot A, Happy Craf, is now set for a stint in Europe. Her trainer Allan Smith said: “She deserves it. It’s a pity we couldn’t run her in the last Turf Series race but she’s off to England at the start of April. She’ll be based with my son Martin in Newmarket and she’ll be targeted at Listed and Group Three races. Hopefully if she can pick up some black type we can send her to stud and then she can return to Bahrain to foal.”