Meydan | Horse Racing Free Tips

Loves Only You Strikes in Kyoto Kinen

Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) conquered all her rivals in the G2 Kyoto Kinen on Valentine's Day at Hanshin.

Wearing a full hood, the 4-5 crowd's pick found a good spot in a tracking fourth one off the fence as Happy Grin (Jpn) (Lohengrin {Jpn}) threw down splits of :23.10 for the quarter and :47.20 for the half-mile. The field was well strung out due to the demanding pace, but pilot Yuga Kawada was calm aboard the 2019 G1 Japanese Oaks winner. After seven panels in 1:23.20, Happy Grin relinquished the lead to the stalking Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) and Loves Only You was poised three deep to pounce. Asked at the head of the lane, she rallied in tandem with Danburite (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) to her inside before making her own way to the front and winning by 1 1/4 lengths with ears pricked. Stay Foolish was a half-length to the good of Danburite at the line.

Loves Only You was undefeated in her first four starts culminating in her Oaks tally, and was third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in November of 2019.Winless in 2020 from five appearances, she was third two back in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup again last fall and was 10th in the G1 Arima Kinen on Dec. 27. Her next intended start is the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Mar. 27.

Pedigree Notes
The much missed Deep Impact has 47 Group 1 winners, Loves Only You among them. In addition, his total number of group winners is 135 and his mark of overall black-type winners stands at 169 worldwide. Storm Cat has sired the dams of 291 black-type winners, 143 at group level, with 43 Group 1 winners. Loves Only Me is one of eight top-level winners by Deep Impact out of a Storm Cat mare.

Loves Only You is one of three black-type winners and the second Group 1 winner after UAE highweight and G1 Dubai Turf hero Real Steel (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) from her unraced dam. She is also a full-sister to SW & MGSP Prodigal Son (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the SP Langley (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Since foaling the winner, Loves Only Me has the winning 4-year-old filly Love You Live (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a 2-year-old colt by Deep Impact (Jpn) and a yearling colt by Duramente (Jpn). She was covered by Heart's Cry (Jpn) last spring.

Loves Only Me, a half-sister to European highweighted juvenile filly Rumplestiltskin (Ire) (Danehill) and Group 3 winner I Am Beautiful (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), was covered by Heart's Cry (Jpn) last spring. Loves Only You's third dam is the outstanding runner and blue hen Miesque (Nureyev).

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
KYOTO KINEN-G2, ¥119,620,000 (US$1,139,690/£823,274/€940,306), Hanshin, 2-14, 4yo/up, 2200mT, 2:10.40, fm.
1–LOVES ONLY YOU (JPN), 119, m, 5, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Loves Only Me, by Storm Cat
                2nd Dam: Monevassia, by Mr. Prospector
                3rd Dam: Miesque, by Nureyev
(¥160,000,000 Ylg '17 JRHAJUL). O-DMM Dream Club;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Yuga Kawada.
¥62,784,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn, 11-5-1-2. *Full to
Langley (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), SP-Jpn, $1,173,360; Real
Steel (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Hwt. Older Horse-UAE at 7-9
1/2f, G1SW-UAE, MGSW & MG1SP-Jpn, $7,508,769; and
Prodigal Son (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), SW & MGSP-Jpn,
$1,564,219. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
   Werk Nick Rating: B+.
2–Stay Foolish (Jpn), 123, h, 6, Stay Gold (Jpn)–Kauai Lane
(Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Shadai Race Horse;
B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn); ¥25,224,000.
3–Danburite (Jpn), 123, g, 7, Rulership (Jpn)–Tanzanite (Jpn), by
Sunday Silence. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥16,112,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.80, 6.00, 10.10.
Also Ran: Jinambo (Jpn), Wagnerian (Jpn), Dance Delight (Jpn), Satono Lux (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), Leyenda (Jpn), Best Approach (GB), Happy Grin (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Flatter Colt Strolls in Meydan Unveiling

1st-Meydan, AED82,500, Maiden, 2-13, NH/SH 3yo, c/g, 1600m, 1:37.16, ft.
PANADOL (c, 3, Flatter-Arradoul, by Dixieland Band), making his racecourse bow in this spot, was not the quickest away, but soon established a half-length lead as the field exited the chute. Bowling along and doing it very easily, the blaze-faced colt's advantage shrank on the bend. He was challenged by Anbar (Bodemeister) at the head of the lane, but shrugged off that foe to win going away by 7 3/4 lengths. Endifaa (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) emerged late to be best of the rest, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Anbar, who held third in a blanket finish.

“He's a nice horse and did it very well today and showed good quality,” said jockey Mickael Barzalona. “At home, I got up on him in his last gallop and I could feel he was very green, but I was very pleased with him [today]. He was very professional. They asked me if I thought he could get farther and I think he can.”

WATCH: Panadol impresses on debut

The winner is a half to the SP Backwood Bay (Girolamo), $107,000; Permanent Vacation (Elusive Quality), SP-Ven; and to the dam of SW Celandine (Street Sense), SP Lazarus Project (Discreetly Mine) and GIII Pilgrim S. runner-up J. S. Choice (Congrats). Arradoul has since produced Alarra, a 2-year-old filly by Alpha and was covered by Audible last spring after missing to Runhappy the year prior. This is the extended family of GI Forego S. and GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. hero A. P. Indian (Indian Charlie), as well as GII Indiana Derby winner Tiz Shea D (Tiznow). Sales history: $180,000 2yo '20 OBSJUN. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $13,479. Click for the Racing Post chart.
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum. B-Chester & Mary R. Broman (NY). T-Salem bin Ghadayer.

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Zakouski Grants Godolphin Three Winners at Meydan

Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal) was one of a trio of winners for Godolphin on Thursday evening, as he scored in the G2 Al Rashidiya over a grassy1800 metres.

Covered up in the garden spot a few lengths off the pace set by Court House (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), Zakouski enjoyed a dream trip while saving ground. Shaken up leaving the bend, the Godolphin colourbearer swung off the fence and tackled Court House just under a furlong from home. He clawed his way past that stubborn foe and went on to win by 3/4 of a length. Noticeably warm in the preliminaries, the grey Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) made a stirring late run and just missed second by a nose.

“I always thought the race was set up nicely for him,” said William Buick, who was winning his third race on the card in tandem with trainer Charlie Appleby, having taken the second with Star Safari (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the third with Secret Protector. “The pace was nice and even, he did well, he really knuckled down and showed a lot of good qualities. This flat track and nine furlongs really suited him well.”

Added Appleby, “We felt this race would be run with a bit more of a sensible pace and William got a lovely ride here today. We have stepped up in trip for the horse, so we will look at Jebel Hatta for him on Super Saturday.”

A novice winner at first asking at Kempton in November of 2018, the bay resurfaced after a lengthy break to take fifth in the G3 Craven S. in April of 2019. Gelded, Zakouski returned 267 days later and scored in a Meydan handicap last January, before adding a neck victory in the G2 Zabeel Mile on Feb. 20. Given another 200-plus day absence, the now 5-year-old gelding returned to be fourth in Newmarket's G2 Challenge S. on Oct. 9, and won the Listed Marshal S. there on Halloween. Trainer Charlie Appleby transferred Zakouski back to the desert and he ran second to rival Lord Glitters in the G2 Singspiel S. on Jan. 21.

Pedigree Notes

The late Shamardal has left 151 black-type winners so far, and Zakouski is one of 77 group winners for the former Darley sire.

One of three group winners out of his dam, Zakouski (GB) is a half-brother to Australian Group 3 winner and G1 Golden Rose S. runner-up and sire Albrecht (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), as well as King's Command (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon.

Zakouski's female family is one of the best in Australasia, as his dam is a full-sister to Australian Horse of the Year Lonhro (Aus) (Octagonal {NZ}), as well as MG1SW Niello (Aus) (Octagonal {NZ}) and MSW Shannara (Aus) (Octagonal {NZ}). New Zealand champion 3-year-old and G1 NZ 2000 Guineas hero Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) is also in the extended family.

Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
AL RASHIDIYA SPONSORED BY EMIRATES.COM-G2, $163,000, Meydan, 2-11, 3yo/up, 9fT, 1:48.39, gd.
1—ZAKOUSKI (GB), 126, g, 5, by Shamardal
1st Dam: O'Giselle (Aus), by Octagonal (NZ)
2nd Dam: Shadea (NZ), by Straight Strike
3rd Dam: Concia (NZ), by First Consul
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick.
$97,800. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 8-5-1-0, $396,292. *1/2 to
Albrecht (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), GSW & G1SP-Aus,
$454,634; and King's Command (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSW-Fr.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A.
2–Court House (Ire), 126, g, 6, Dawn Approach (Ire)–Crossanza
(Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€38,000 RNA Wlg '15 GOFNOV;
€200,000 Ylg '16 GOFORB). O-Rabbah Racing; B-Nanallac Stud
(IRE); T-Simon Crisford. $32,600.
3–Lord Glitters (Fr), 129, g, 8, Whipper–Lady Glitters (Fr), by
Homme de Loi (Ire). (€25,000 Ylg '14 AR14; €270,000 HRA '17
ARJUN). O-Geoff & Sandra Turnbull; B-SCA Elevage de
Tourgeville & Mme Hilary Erculiani (FR); T-David O'Meara.
$16,300.
Margins: 3/4, NO, 6.
Also Ran: Bless Him (Ire), Cap Francais (GB), Kinross (GB), Dream Castle (GB). Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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‘Soldier’ ‘Salutes’ in Al Maktoum Challenge R2

Salute the Soldier (Ger) (Sepoy {Aus}) captured the second group race of his career in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at Meydan on Thursday. His win interrupted a Godolphin streak, as the royal blue was first past the post in three of the five races carded for Thoroughbreds on the day.

The Alan Spence-bred settled in a tracking third as Capezzano (Bernardini) showed the way on the front end. However, Salute the Soldier sidled up to the pacesetter's outside and stuck his neck in front late on the back straight. Capezzano punched back and those two continued to exchange blows around the far turn. Still locked together at the quarter pole, Salute the Soldier inched away from a stubborn Capezzano 300 metres from home. As the wire neared, the Fawzi Nass trainee started to tread water, but held on to win by a length from the closing Thegreatcollection (Saint Anddan). Ajuste Fiscal (Uru) (Ioya Bigtime) completed the trifecta 3/4 of a length back in third. Capezzano hung gamely on for fourth a neck behind.

“It went to plan, I expected Capezzano (Bernardini) to lead and I wanted to sit in second,” said jockey Adrie de Vries. “My horse started to get a bit racy, but I needed to react, and I could give him a blow on the turn to fill him up again. We hit the front soon and he always just does enough, he was getting very tired in the end and he was entitled to, I think we went fast, riding a bit deep. This is a big point for us, maybe we can go for the big one [G1 Dubai World Cup] with this horse. He needs to step up, I think he would have learnt a lot today. He is a funny horse and was late to mature, and not easy to train, and there is still room for improvement.”

Third in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup S. at Newbury in September of 2019 in the colours of Mr. and Mrs. P. Hargreaves and Alan Spence for trainer Clive Cox, the bay was knocked down for 380,000 guineas to Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock later that fall at the Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale. Transferred to the Fawzi Nass barn for new owners Victorious, he promptly rewarded his new connections with a handicap win in his Meydan debut last January. Fourth to Thursday's G2 Al Rashidiya victor Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal) in the G2 Zabeel Mile on Feb. 20, Salute the Soldier captured his first group race, the G3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday in 2020. Coming off a 285-day break, the gelding returned with a fourth in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile behind re-opposing rival Thegreatcollection on Dec. 17, and went one better in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 on Jan. 21.

Pedigree Notes

Salute the Soldier counts as one of 21 black-type winners, 11 at the group level, for Gone West-line stallion Sepoy. His best progeny to date has been the Godolphin filly Alizee (Aus), a winner of the G1 Queen of the Turf S., G1 Futurity S. and G1 Flight S. Salute the Soldier is his second Group 2 winner after G2 German 1000 Guineas heroine Unforgetable Filly (GB).

By far the best foal produced by the unraced Street Fire (Ire), Salute the Soldier is one of five winners from seven to race. His dam's latest offspring is a yearling filly by Iffraaj (GB). The 6-year-old gelding's third dam is French listed winner Danzante (Danzig), who was also placed five times at group level in France and America and threw GI Eddie Read H. hero Monzante (Maria's Mon), as well as French stakes winner Alpha Plus (Mr. Prospector), second in the G3 Prix La Rochette. Danzante was one of five black-type winners for SW Bold Captive (Boldnesian), chief among them GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Skywalker (Relaunch).

Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R2 SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE-G2, $293,000, Meydan, 2-11, 3yo/up, 9 1/2f, 1:57.37, fs.
1–SALUTE THE SOLDIER (GER), 126, g, 6, by Sepoy (Aus)
1st Dam: Street Fire (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Firedrake, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: Danzante, by Danzig
(380,000gns HRA '19 TATAUT). O-Victorious; B-Alan Spence
(GER); T-Fawzi Nass; J-Adrie de Vries. $175,800. Lifetime
Record: 20-7-5-3, $672,317. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thegreatcollection, 126, g, 7, Saint Anddan–Cactus Cadillac,
by Cactus Ridge. O-Zaur Sekrekov; B-Kathleen Amaya,
Alexandro Centofanti & Raffaele Centofanti (FL); T-Doug
Watson. $58,600.
3–Ajuste Fiscal (Uru), 126, c, 4, Ioya Bigtime–Braid (Arg), by
Storm Surge. O-Stud La Pomme; B-La Concordia (URU);
T-Antonio Luiz Cintra Pereira. $29,300.
Margins: 1, 3/4, NK.
Also Ran: Capezzano, Firnas (GB), Quip, Blown By Wind (GB), Dubai Warrior (GB), Mootasadir (GB). Scratched: Mark of Approval.
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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