Zanzamar on Classic trail for De Kock
Making his debut in the desert, the colt is the first horse Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum has had with the South African master trainer.
Ridden by Richard Hills, the 9-4 favourite came with a withering run down the centre of the track to beat the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained pair of Splash Point and Bridgefield.
“I’m not too sure about the strength of the horses he beat, but he did well,” said De Kock. He was a little bit off the bit but he ran on steadily and his stamina then kicks in. He’ll run in the Guineas and the Derby – he needs a hard campaign.”
Frankie Dettori is never far from the winner’s circle here and bagged his first of the night when Spring Of Fame coasted home in the Al Sarab Trophy.
Last seen finishing seventh of seven behind Timepiece at Newmarket in October, Dettori had him in second behind Hattan early on before kicking clear with over a furlong to run on Saeed bin Suroor’s five-year-old.
Simon De Montfort created a real impression in coming from the rear to win the Al Forsan Handicap under Kieren Fallon.
Regarded as an Epsom Derby prospect last year, the King’s Best colt was having his first run since April, and his first since joining Godolphin and Al Zarooni.
