Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (c, 2, Ten Sovereigns {Ire}–Zindziswa, by Smart Strike), a new Euro import for Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael J. Caruso, captured Thursday's GIII With Anticipation Stakes to stay undefeated in two career starts and give his rider a record-tying 15 stakes wins in a single season at the Spa.
“I'm very grateful. It's been a great meet,” said winning rider Flavien Prat. “I've been on good horses and they've been running well. It would be amazing to break the record, but if not, at least we tied it, right?”
Under Prat, Zulu Kingdom hopped and ducked inward at the break, but was far from the worst offender in a bumper car-like beginning. Shuffled into third early, he wasn't hurried by Prat and the pair was content to let longshot Nudge (Uncle Mo) and favored Tenacious Leader (Not This Time) fight it out for supremacy up front. The former won the early war, motoring along under :24.20 and :48.70 fractions, with Zulu Kingdom holding his rail spot in third while under a snug hold. Going into the final turn, he tossed his head, clearly eager to be let loose, as Cavallo Bay (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}) drew alongside. Prat was positioned to split horses at the top of the lane, but the hole closed and he dove inside for a rail run, surprising them all in the dash for home. Despite a determined Tenacious Leader gaining late as he chased Zulu Kingdom to the wire, the latter was game and held off the favorite by a neck.
“It was a great ride,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “I wasn't really sure if there was enough room in there but [Prat is] the one on him and he felt there was and he got through, luckily. He was traveling good the whole way. The final piece of confidence I had was in the paddock–the horse just acted super.”
Zulu Kingdom debuted June 4 in a Saint-Cloud maiden for Andre Fabre with a sharp victory over 11 others at seven furlongs. Purchased privately out of that win, he was shipped stateside to Brown. The With Anticipation was his U.S. debut; the bay is now unbeaten in two career starts.
“Agent Hubert Guy bought the horse for this partnership,” said Brown. “He's bought a lot of nice horses for us through the years–too many to name, but [Aug. 22 GII Ballston Spa Stakes winner] Beaute Cachee (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) is another horse he bought for us.”
Pedigree Notes:
Zulu Kingdom is the second graded or group winner for Coolmore's Ten Sovereigns (Ire), whose own wins included the 2019 G1 Darley July Cup and the 2018 G1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes. With his oldest crop just three, Irish-based Ten Sovereigns has five black-type winners, with Zulu Kingdom marking his first U.S. stakes winner. The With Anticipation victor also is the 193rd stakes winner out of a Smart Strike mare.
Zindziswa has also produced Zulu Warrior (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), winner of the listed Prix Turenne last September. The mare's last reported produce is a yearling colt by Magna Grecia (Ire). She is out of MGSW-Fr Zinziberine, who in turn produced three black-type winners, including Zanzibari, a GSW-Fr full-brother to Zindziswa.
Flavien Prat ties the record for most stakes wins in a Saratoga season with 15! He did it aboard ZULU KINGDOM in the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes for trainer Chad Brown! 🎉 What a ride, what a season! pic.twitter.com/SJSyqWuhFF
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 29, 2024
Thursday, Saratoga
WITH ANTICIPATION S.-GIII, $175,000, Saratoga, 8-29, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.79, fm.
1–ZULU KINGDOM (IRE), 122, c, 2, by Ten Sovereigns (Ire)
1st Dam: Zindziswa, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Zinziberine, by Zieten
3rd Dam: Amenixa (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.
O-Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and
Michael J. Caruso; B-Ecurie Peregrine SAS (IRE); T-Chad C.
Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $96,250. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$112,607. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tenacious Leader, 120, c, 2, Not This Time–Diamonds and
Rust, by Curlin. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($375,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC and
Repole Stable; B-Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher. $35,000.
3–Cavallo Bay (GB), 122, c, 2, Pinatubo (Ire)–La Pelosa (Ire),
by Dandy Man (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE. O/B-Godolphin, LLC (GB); T-Charles Appleby. $21,000.
Margins: NK, 3, NO. Odds: 2.10, 1.90, 5.40.
Also Ran: Nudge, Test Score, Without Caution. Scratched: Dancing Bear, Good Long Cry, Joey Muscles, Reach for the Rose, Uncaged.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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