ON a card that featured a pair of Group 2 races for thoroughbreds, Thursday evening’s fourth meeting of the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival saw Bahraini Fawzi Nass capture the centrepiece Al Maktoum Challenge R2 with the German-foaled Salute The Soldier, given a majestic ride by Adrie de Vries. The race was won last year by Benbatl.

In the nine and a half furlong contest on dirt Capezzano and Mickael Barzalona set out to try and make every post a winning one, but de Vries was never far away. A head-to-head duel developed throughout the first part of the straight before Capezzano faltered, leaving Salute The Soldier with a clear advantage, one he was never likely to relinquish. The Dutch-born de Vries was sporting the silks of Victorious.