Salute The Soldier wins Dubai Group 2 for Sepoy
Sepoy saw 6-year-old son Salute The Soldier (Ger) enter the Meydan winner’s circle on Thursday after a victory in the Al Maktoum Challenge R2 Sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Racing over 1900 metres on the dirt, the gelding followed the leading Capezzano (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) early on while racing a clear second. Half way down the backstretch, Adrie de Vries let his mount out a notch and Salute The Soldier came up to the leader and put the pressure on. Capezzano was under pressure by his jockey as they entered the final 400 metres with de Vries not yet moving on his mount. A few metres later, Salute The Soldier took over the lead and pulled away to a 1l win over Thegreatcollection (USA) (Saint Anddan {USA}) in the end.
“Things had not gone to plan in two runs so far this season so we decided to step him up in trip and it has worked perfectly,” said de Vries. “We went a good, early pace but I was keen to pressure Mickael quite early and then my horse really picked up well. Perhaps we can look at the 2000 metres and Dubai World Cup.”
It was the third run of this carnival for Salute The Soldier, who finished third in January’s G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Sponsored by Mina By Azizi. The Fawzi Nass-trained runner ended last season with a win in the G3 Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates Holidays on Super Saturday last year.
Bred during Sepoy’s stint reverse shuttling to Europe from 2013 to 2016, Salute The Soldier is the first stakes winner in his first two generations with his grandam a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Monzante (USA) (Maria’s Mon {USA}). The family also includes Peruvian champion Golden Leaf (Arg) (Stay Thirsty {USA}) and G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Skywalker (USA) (Relaunch {USA}).
Zakouski adds to family resume in G2 Al Rashidiya
In a big night for Australia-connected horses at Meydan, Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) won the G2 Al Rashidiya Sponsored By emirates.com for a third stakes victory.
The Godolphin homebred was quickly out of the barriers from the inside draw and raced along the fence in third during the early stages of the 1800 metre turf race. As they entered the final 100 metres, Zakouski took over the lead and raced on past Court House (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) with Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper {USA}) making a late run. Zakouski crossed the line 0.75l ahead of Court House with Lord Glitters missing second by just a nose.
"When I asked him he has responded really nicely and that was a very good performance,” said jockey William Buick. “We would like to think he is still improving and will perhaps now look at Super Saturday and the G1 Jebel Hatta.”
Zakouski comes from a strong Australian family with his dam O’Giselle (Octagonal {NZ}) also the dam of Group 3 winner and sire Albrecht and Grade 3 winner King’s Command (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
From the Group 3-winning Shadea (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), O’Giselle is a full sister to Horse of the Year and Champion Sire Lonhro, multiple Group 1 winner and sire Niello, and stakes winner Shannara.
Returned to Australia in 2018 after a stint in Europe, O’Giselle has a yearling colt by Shooting To Win and was bred to Blue Point (Ire) last year.
