Happy Craf, Arqoob win Bahrain Turf Series bonuses

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The inaugural edition of the prestigious Bahrain Turf Series came to a close on Friday at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.

Upon completion of the event, the horses with the leading overall points were presented with their additional £25,000 in prize money by REHC High Committee chairman 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 and E Racing and trainer Allan Smith, while 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.”