Snellen off on Bahrain adventure Snellen is set to have a winter campaign in Bahrain as connections chase some nice pots before potentially retiring her next spring. The Gavin Cromwell-trained filly sprang to prominence when winning the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2023. She proved to be a consistent performer last season at a lower level, winning a Limerick handicap and a conditions event at Gowran Park. The Expert Eye filly is set to contest the Al Muharraq Cup on Friday evening, a handicap worth US$80,000. “She flew out Saturday and arrived on Sunday,” said Cromwell on Wednesday. “She's basically there until March. There is going to be a race for her there every couple of weeks. “She's going to run on Friday and Gary (Carroll) is going across to ride her. It's a mile-and-a-quarter handicap, so it'll be interesting. “I'm told you'd want a mile or a mile-and-one horse for a mile-and-a-quarter around there. “It's a sharp track, seemingly a very nice track, but you'd want gears. It should be fine for her. “There is plenty of stamina in her pedigree and it shouldn't be a problem to her. “It's US$80,000 for nearly all of the handicaps. Then there are conditions races and Listed races towards the end and the money steps up to maybe 150 grand. “She's more than likely going to be put in foal in the spring, and she wants fast ground, so with that in mind we'll give this a go.”
