Royal Fleet & Zakouski fill G2 Singspiel Stakes places

Lord Glitters edged out a Godolphin duo in the G2 Singspiel Stakes for a second successive year as Royal Fleet and Zakouski finished second and third in the turf feature on week five of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, Friday, 11 February.

Zakouski (pictured), runner-up to Lord Glitters 12 months ago, tracked Passion And Glory in the early stages of the nine-furlong contest, with Royal Fleet covered up behind the leaders in sixth.

Kick On moved up to join Zakouski with half a mile to race and both horses battled for the lead as Passion And Glory faded a furlong and a half from home.

Royal Fleet and Art Du Val also launched strong challenges before Zakouski established a narrow advantage under William Buick approaching the final-half furlong, only for Lord Glitters to fly home and hit the front in the closing stages.

Royal Fleet rallied for James Doyle to take second in the final strides to finish a length second, with a further three-quarters of a length back to Zakouski.

Charlie Appleby, responsible for both horses, said: “We were pleased with Royal Fleet and Zakouski.

“Royal Fleet is making it up into a nice horse. We will see how he comes out of this but I feel that a step up in trip might suit, so he could potentially go for the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes in a couple of weeks.

“Zakouski has run another solid race and should step forward for his first outing of the year, so we will head to the G1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday.”