Stakes Quotes: BURJ NAHAAR (GROUP 3)

BURJ NAHAAR (GROUP 3)
$350,000 | 1600m (dirt)

Winner: SALUTE THE SOLDIER
Pedigree: Sepoy – Street Fire (Street Cry)
Owner: Victorious
Trainer: Fawzi Nass
Jockey: Adrie de Vries
Official Time: 1:37.27
Track Record: 1:34.99 – Muntazah, 2019
Stakes Record (Meydan Dirt): 1:34.99 – Muntazah, 2019
Margin of Victory: 5½ Lengths

Adrie de Vries, Jockey, SALUTE THE SOLDIER (1st)—“I was pretty confident. He’s been working very well on the dirt and we’ve been waiting to run him on the dirt. He showed that he’s maybe even better on the surface. He has that front-running style and has plenty of speed. Today he travelled really well into the race ,which I like more than making the running. He hit the front and pricked his ears. That’s what I like about him. He takes a breather and kicks on again.

Fawzi Nass, Trainer, SALUTE THE SOLDIER (1st)—“He’s always shown he likes the surface and it was good to see him perform like that today. Obviously, the only worry was the kickback, but he has enough speed to keep himself out of it. We’re learning about him. He has been very good today and his (pre-race antics) were much better than the first time he was out here. When we purchased him we thought he could be a horse for the dirt and he had been working well on it. He is a nervous type, so we saddle him in a closed box and try and keep him away from the others and crowds. Adrie gave him the perfect ride.”

Xavier Ziani, Jockey, AXELROD (2nd)—“It was the first time I rode him and I watched the race when he won the Indiana Derby and he was like this; 10 lengths behind everyone. He just needs to get in the game. As soon as he got in the game today, he finished well. He probably needed that ride because, since the World Cup, he didn’t run, but I think that is good for the big day.”

Tadhg O’Shea, Jockey, SECRET AMBITION (3rd)—“He ran a good race. They went very fast, obviously, and an outside draw is probably better for him. He likes a bit of space in his races. He got a little bit upset in the gates, but other than that, he ran a good race, considering.”

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