Salute The Soldier Emerges as Dubai World Cup Contender

The fourth evening of the Dubai World Cup Carnival Feb. 11 was another tour de force for the Godolphin home team but it was Salute The Soldier, trained by Bahraini Fawzi Nass, who emerged as a candidate for the March 27 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).

Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation, trainer Charlie Appleby, and jockey William Buick combined to win three of the six Thoroughbred events on the program. The boys in blue, however, did not have a runner in the night's co-featured Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G2).

That event went to Salute The Soldier, who disputed the lead from midway down the backstretch, put away early challenger Capezzano in deep stretch and ran on to win by a length. Thegreatcollection came running a bit too late and settled for second with Ajuste Fiscal continuing a good Carnival run for his native land by finishing third.

Capezzano, a lukewarm favorite on the international markets, stayed on to finish fourth.

Salute The Soldier, a 6-year-old Sepoy gelding, finished the 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) in 1:57.37 with Adrie de Vries riding. He was third in Round 1 of the challenge Jan. 21, behind Military Law and Thegreatcollection. Military Law did not contest the $293,000 Round 2 with his connections opting instead for the $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 20 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

"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," de Vries said. "We went a good early pace, but I was keen to pressure Mickael (Barzalona, on Capezzano) quite early and then my horse really picked up well.

"Perhaps we can look at the 2,000 meters and Dubai World Cup," de Vries added.

There would be precedent. Moon Ballad won Round 2 of the Challenge in 2003 and went on to win the World Cup without an intervening start.

In the Al Rashidiya Sponsored by Emirates.com, Zakouski split rivals at the top of the lane, chased pacesetting Court House and Barzalona to the 100-meter mark and edged ahead to win by three-quarters of a length. Lord Glitters ran strongly through deep stretch to take third, just a nose farther in arrears. Buick piloted Zakouski over 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) of good turf in 1:48.39.

Zakouski, a 5-year-old Godolphin homebred gelding by Shamardal, finished second, three lengths back of Lord Glitters, in their last start, the Singspiel Stakes Sponsored by Riviera by Azizi (G2) Jan. 21 at the same 1,800 meters.

"We were pretty confident coming here," Buick said, "and, from our draw in (gate) one, I was delighted to track Mickael who carried us into the race. When I asked him, he has responded really nicely and that was a very good performance.

"We would like to think he is still improving and will perhaps now look at Super Saturday and the Jebel Hatta (G1)," Buick said.

The Godolphin-Appleby-Buick combo also scored with Star Safari in the 2,410-meter (about 1 1/2 miles) Emirates Sky Cargo and Secret Protector in the Meydan Trophy Sponsored by Emirates Holidays at 1,900 meters on the green course.

Trainer Doug Watson's Red Stable wrapped up the evening's festivities with a victory by Motafaawit in the Emirates Skywards going 1,000 meters (about 5 furlongs) down the turf straight.