The
Champion 2YO in South Africa last year, Epaulette colt Soqrat added a third Group
I win to his tally when taking out the Group I HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut
Stakes at Turffontein in South Africa on Saturday.
Taking on older horses at weight-for-age over 1600 metres, the Mike de Kock
trained Soqrat was sent out favourite and scored by the best part of a length
and has now won five of nine starts with four placings.
A homebred for Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud that was foaled and raised in the
Hunter Valley at Yarraman Park, Soqrat is the second winner for Hussonet (USA)
mare Elzeeza, a daughter of stakes-placed Lunasong from the family of Group I
HK Chairman's Prize Sprint winner Lucky Bubbles and Group winners Gunnison,
Colorado Claire, Selenium and Moonovermanhattan.
Elzeeza has a yearling colt by Snitzel and will foal again to the same sire
this spring after missing to Not a Single Doubt the year before.
Soqrat is the best performer to date for Darley's Epaulette, who covered 88
mares last spring at a fee of $27,500.