In targeting the Bahrain Turf Series Charlie Appleby of Godolphin stated ‘the benefit of the Bahrain Turf Series brings a different dimension of race programs that’s on our doorstep.’
‘We campaign heavily in Dubai over the winter, and from a European point Bahrain is a great option to have,’ with the Al Sakhir Cup and Vision 2030 Cup to conclude the Bahrain Turf Series.
British-expatriate trainer Allan Smith and owners M And R Racing have dominated the Sprint Turf Series with Happy Craf leading on 45 points, with stable-mate Roman River on 42 points.
However, Allan has decided to by-pass Friday’s Al Sakhir Cup, and aim for the 1351 Cup on Saudi Cup Day, which he won in 2020 with the 66/1 outsider Dark Power, ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Allan Smith is now certain the claim the £10,000/ €11,823 Trainers Bonus and M And E Racing the £15,000/ €17,735 Owners Bonus, now it’s the arrival of Godolphin for the Al Sakhir Cup.
To be run over 1400m, Charlie Appleby has jockey James Doyle on the last start Meydan winner Silent Film in Barrier 7, who last year finished off his 3yo season by winning over 7f at Sandown.
With Silent Film being a 190,000 Gns buy at the October Yearling Sale Book 1 by Derby winner New Approach, he’s joined by Urgent Appeal in Gate 8, a €300,000 Arqana yearling graduate.
Trained Simon and Ed Grisford, he recently finished 10th in the Emaar Dubai Sprint at Meydan, having won three times over 1300m at Chantilly as a 2 and 3yo, sired by top-liner Showcasing.
To be ridden Charles Bishop from Gate 8 and on 59kg, compared to Silent Film on 61.5kg, it’s Graphite Storm who heads the locals on 32 points and with 57kg, equal to Deep Intrigue on 60kg.
Also, it’s JS Moore with Magical Wish for John Egan and Wonder Elzaan from Gate 1, Michael Bell with Natural Path for Martin Seidl and Charlie Hills has Saffie Osborne on King’s Knight.
Charlie Appleby heads the lightly raced 4yo Dubawi home-bred Tamborrada to the Vision 2030 Cup of 2000m, with James Doyle to carry top-weight of 62kg, and be starting from Gate 3.
In coming off a 10-month layoff when fifth in the London Gold Cup at Newbury, and unraced at 2, he won 3 of his 4 starts last year as a 3yo, all at 1m2f at both Lingfield and Doncaster.
The non-winning twice placed Distance Turf Series leader Arqoob is on 41 points for Little Staughton Farms and Newmarket’s William Jarvis, who are viewing the Owners and Trainers Bonus.
Also from Britain is Jamie Osborne with his 5lb apprentice daughter Saffie riding Brains, Keith Dalgleish with Eoin Walsh on Howzer Black and George Baker has Lewis Edmunds for La Maquina.
In neighbouring Qatar, the 3-day HH The Amir Sword Festival concludes on Saturday and it’s Andrew Balding and King Power Racing who have Fox Tal wearing No 1 in the HH The Amir Trophy.
In being a last start winner at Wolverhampton, Fox Tal will again be ridden by David Probert, jumping from Gate 12 in this 2400m Turf event, that carries US$1m/ €881,000 in total prizemoney.
Britain’s Holly Doyle and Archie Watson have Outbox starting in Gate 9, Alban de Mieulle returns with 2019, 2020 Trophy winner French King, while Henri-Alex Pantall has Mutabali from Gate 6.
Andrew Balding leads the ‘guineas’ field of 16 in the Al Rayyan Mile of 1600m for 3yo’s with last start Lingfield mile winner Al Marmar to be ridden by David Probert, in being by top-liner Kodiac.
Joseph O’Brien has his claiming apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle challenging on his Dundalk 7f winner Hadman starting from Barrier 14, and is a gelded son of Starspangledbanner.
In the Dukham Sprint of 1200m it’s young Yorkshire trainer Edward Bethell who has Regional to be ridden by Kevin Stott, while in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup on Friday it’s Joseph O’Brien with San Andreas and from France Christophe Ferland has Pao Alto.
