Zakouski gets right trip to take Al Rashidiya Stakes
With help from race dynamics, Zakouski beat Lord Glitters on Thursday at Meydan in the Group 2, $163,000 Al Rashidiya Stakes.
Zakouski was home by three-quarters of a length as pacesetting Court House won a place photo with Lord Glitters in this 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8 miles) turf contest.
The Jan. 21 Singspiel Stakes, a race at the same distance and in the same division, unfolded at a solid tempo as Lord Glitters charged home to post a three-length victory. Thursday, Court House strolled along on an easy lead, Zakouski settled just behind him along the fence, and while Zakouski and William Buick were able to get out when they needed to and punch home to win the race, Lord Glitters, racing from well off the lead, had a tougher trip. He sought room to the outside in upper stretch, then was steered inside, attempting to follow Zakouski. Lord Glitters kicked when clear on the outside, but the top two had too much left and he could only finish third, albeit in a second strong performance while spending his first winter in Dubai.
Charlie Appleby trains the homebred winner for Goldophin, and 5-year-old Zakouski, with only eight starts under his belt, still has some upside. By Sharmardal out of O’Giselle, by Octagonal, Zakouski went 2 for 2 on the Meydan turf during the 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival, and now, having shown he can race effectively beyond one mile, Zakouski could be aimed toward the Dubai Turf on the Dubai World Cup undercard.
While Zakouski might or might not prove capable of contending in a true Group 1 race, the Thursday feature, the Group 2, $293,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2, probably will have little bearing on the Dubai World Cup itself. Salute the Soldier, notching the biggest win of his career, won what appeared to be a classic slog, wearing down pacesetter Capezzano and holding clear a mild rally from Thegreatcollection to win by a length. Dubai Warrior, favored in international betting while making his dirt debut for trainer John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori, never came close to reaching contention and finished eighth, beating only his older brother, Mootasadir.
Fawzi Nass trains Salute the Soldier, who was ridden by Adrie de Vries and clocked 1:57.37 for the 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) on dirt. Salute the Soldier, who has made only three dirt starts in his career, is by Sepoy out of Street Fire, by Street Cry.