Dubai : Champion jockey Ryan Moore ensured Dubai's successful Royal Ascot meeting continued unabated when he partnered the unbeaten Zaidan to win the opening Chesham Stakes, and towards a long-term target in the Kentucky Derby.
The two-year-old son of 2002 Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry is owned by Dubai businessman Saeed Manana, who has enjoyed some major victories in the UK and Europe over the years, most notably with Dubal Coronation Cup (Group 1) winner Warrsan. Trained by Clive Brittain and ridden by Seb Sanders, a former stable jockey to Dubai-based French trainer Erwan Charpy, Zidane scored by three lengths from Sonning Rose, ridden by Alan Murno.
Casper's Touch, the mount of former Irish champion Kieren Fallon, was three quarters of a length back in third.
Zidane entered the betting market for next year's 2000 Guineas with a 25/1 quote by Sky Bet. Strong Suit, who came from nowhere to win the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last week, is the 9/1 ante-post favourite. Brittain said: "As always I'm the dreamer. Our long-term plan is the Kentucky Derby.
"He will probably go for a Group race and Kentucky will be on the cards.
"I said the next time I go back to Kentucky with a horse, it would be with one with a chance and he could be it."
