Trainer Gavin Cromwell made history in December when his filly Snellen became the first Irish-trained winner in Bahrain and he is hoping for another landmark success tomorrow when Snellen runs in the Crown Prince’s Cup, one of the kingdom’s premier races, at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
A Royal Ascot winner at two, Snellen announced her arrival in Bahrain with an impressive win in the Al Muharraq Cup, round one of the 2024-25 Bahrain Turf Series. She now steps up in grade to Listed company for the $150,000 Crown Prince’s Cup, run over 2,000m – the same course and distance she won over in December.
To win, Snellen will need to stop the George Scott bandwagon that has seen the Newmarket-based trainer win five races already this season in Bahrain, as well as striking in Dubai last week with exciting sprinter, West Acre.
Scott runs Phantom Flight in the Crown Prince’s Cup, fresh from victory in round three of the Bahrain Turf Series, and is aiming to win consecutive running's of the prestigious Listed race after Isle Of Jura’s success last year.
In what looks to be an open and competitive renewal of the Crown Prince’s Cup, the seven-runner field is completed by four of the best locally trained horses, headed by Sovereign Spirit, plus Passion And Glory from Dubai, representing Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin and due to be ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Snellen’s trainer, Gavin Cromwell, believes the weight allowance his filly receives could prove decisive. “We’ve been very happy with Snellen,” he said. “She is training well and has really acclimatised to her surroundings.
“Obviously, she is stepping out of handicap company, but she now gets all the allowances and we are hopeful of a big run and she should not be far away.”
This year, the Crown Prince’s Cup Festival takes place over two days with today’s card featuring two more races in the Bahrain Turf Series.
With the likes of Snellen and Phantom Flight – winners already in the series – going to the Crown Prince’s Cup, it is an opportunity for Majestic to extend his lead in the middle-distance division, the winner of which receives a bonus prize of $40,000.
Trained by Jack Channon and running in the colours of his father, Mick, Majestic is arguably in the form of his life, despite now being a seven-year-old. The winner of the Cambridgeshire in 2022, Majestic was runner-up to Snellen on his Bahrain debut and then went one better next time out in the Al Dana Cup, giving him a total of 25 points and a seven-point lead in the division.
Today, he runs in the Anchorman Cup, sponsored by Howden, off a career-high mark of 99 but is clearly thriving in the winter sun.
After delivering a cool-as-ice ride to win on Majestic last time, Seamie Heffernan keeps the mount and it could be a productive couple of days for the Irishman as he also takes the mount on Snellen for Gavin Cromwell in the Crown Prince’s Cup.
The Hawar Cup, sponsored by Cebarco, is the sprint race in the Bahrain Turf Series today and 10 of the 18 runners are internationally trained.
They include two runners for in-form trainer George Scott in City House and Rocket Rodney, as well as two for Bahrain regular George Baker, with Stewards Cup winner Get It and Desert Cop, the latter making his debut for the yard.
Bahrain Turf Club ambassador Tom Marquand is among the leading riders in action at the Crown Prince’s Cup Festival, and he will be wearing the colours of Economics when he rides Instinctive Move for Al Adiyat Racing in the Hawar Cup, one of seven rides the Group One-winning jockey is due to take over the two days.
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