Bahrain Turf Series: Cromwell and Carroll strike with Snellen

Gavin Cromwell and Gary Carroll combined to make history when the talented filly Snellen became the first Irish-trained winner in Bahrain with victory in the $80,000 Al Muharraq Cup (sponsored by Texel Air). 

A winner as a two-year-old at Royal Ascot, Snellen was Cromwell’s first runner in the Middle East and the 2000m race, the opening middle-distance race in this season’s Bahrain Turf Series, was her first attempt at the trip.

Held up off the pace, Snellen and jockey Gary Carroll weaved their way through the sixteen-runner field to win in impressive fashion.

Back in second was Majestic, for Jack Channon and David Probert, with fellow raidersLion Of War (trained by Charlie Johnston) and Box To Box (Hugo Palmer) filling the other placings. 

“She didn’t break very well and Gary took her back and rode her for luck, they got all the splits and she was really good, she certainly showed a turn of foot. The plan is to run again here in two weeks’ time,” Cromwell said.

Carroll added: “She does have a bit of class about her. She’s going on four now and she’s got bigger and stronger and loves fast ground. It was her first time at a mile and a quarter, and she loved it, I think she’ll go further too. I got a lovely run through and all the gaps came at the right time.  

“It’s great to have a winner here in Bahrain, it’s a lovely track, lovely country, everyone has been so nice since we arrived and hopefully, we will be back plenty more!” 

Swift Asset more than lived up to his name when blazing a trail to victory in the opening leg of the Bahrain Turf Series sprint division, the 1000m Al Manama Cup (sponsored by Al Salam Bank). This was a triumph for the locals, for trainer Jaber Ramadhan and jockey Abdulrahim Jassim, with the latter enjoying his first Bahrain Turf Series victory.  

Indeed, the first four home were all locally trained, with the eight-strong international contingent barely getting a look-in. The best of the visitors being Roman Dragon (trained by Hugo Palmer), in fifth, followed by James Ferguson’s Jubilee Walk in sixth.  

Formerly trained in Britain by Richard Hannon, Swift Asset has thrived in Bahrain in the care of trainer Jaber Ramadhan. The gelding won twice last season and today landed a memorable victory under top-weight in the $80,000 handicap on his first run of this campaign.  

Speaking after the race, the winning rider, Abdulrahim Jassim, said: “It’s a great feeling. It’s my first Bahrain Turf Series win. It’s really means a lot, we all look forward to these races and to win one is special. I feel blessed and grateful.” 

Trainer Jaber Ramadhan added: “The jockey did a great job on him, playing catch me if you can. This race was the plan from the beginning of the season. We kept him for this day because he’s 98 rated and had he run, we may not have got in to today’s race. It’s very exciting to win such a big race with so many quality horses.”  

The next two races in the Bahrain Turf Series take place on January 3.