Zanzamar takes 2000 Guineas Trial
Mike De Kock appears to have forged another successful partnership with a major owner after the victory of Zanzamar in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial at Meydan today.
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."
Hills added: "We were a bit worried about the distance and he had the blinkers on to help him concentrate.
"He travelled well but just lost his concentration a bit when I went to win my race, but he's a nice horse and he can only improve."
Meydan specialist De Kock had also struck in the opener as Solid Choice (8-1) and Christophe Soumillon landed the Marsala Trophy.
"We had him gelded since last year and he is far more relaxed," said De Kock.
"We needed him to switch off and it seems to have worked."
Hills was also in great form and gave the former Ed Dunlop-trained Derbaas (14-1) a top-class ride in the Falcon Lounge Trophy.
De Kock's Here To win was second with Godolphin's Kingsfort, a Group One winner in Ireland for Kevin Prendergast as a juvenile, third.
Derbaas is now trained by Ali Al Raihe who was also in double form following the earlier victory of Happy Dubai (20-1) in the Al Hadeerah Trophy under Ahmed Ajtebi.
Walter Swinburn's Monsieur Joe flashed home to claim second, beaten half a length.
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.
Dettori said: "He jumped good - from the back straight there was no pace and I was in an ideal spot.
"I knew when we got to the two pole he would be very hard to pass."
And it did not take the ever-popular Italian long to double up as the Bin Suroor-trained Aspectoflove prevailed from Thai Haku in a head-bobber for the Group Two Cape Verdi over a mile.
However, the unlucky horse was De Kock's 11-8 favourite River Jetez, who got blocked when going for a run up the rail and flew all too late once switched and in the clear, finishing a close third.
Dettori added: "I knew if it came down to a fight she would give everything she had. It was a cat-and-mouse situation, but it's sweet when it works out.
"I knew Christophe (Soumillon) was there but it's one of those things."
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.
