Mike De Kock’s Australian connection paid dividends once again in Dubai on Thursday night when Solid Choice won the Marsala Trophy (1400m) at Meydan.

Solid Choice (4g Redoute’s Choice – Venetian Pride by Gone West) was ridden by Christophe Soumillon and came with a tremendous late charge to score by a neck from Yirga (Cape Cross) and Tybalt (Storm Cat) over 1400m.

“He’s a lot more relaxed now that he’s been gelded and that was a very good ride from Christophe as we wanted him to switch off early,” De Kock stated.  “This horse actually beat Musir back in South Africa but he tended to get revved up last year.”

De Kock trained Musir (Redoute’s Choice) to win the UAE 2000 Guineas and UAE Derby last year.  

The South African horseman and his main client Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa got the 2011 Dubai carnival off to a flyer when their southern bred Galileo fillies Reem and Mahbooba filled the quinella the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial on January 13.

Solid Choice (Aus) had won the 2009 Gatecrasher Stakes at Clairwood and he was also placed in the G1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.

He was catalogued for the 2008 Inglis Easter yearling sale but failed to reach a $300,000 reserve and was retained to race by Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa.  

Redoute’s Choice got him from USA bred mare Venetian Pride who won at Hamilton and was placed at Goodwood for the late Sheikh Maktoum in 2003.  Second dam Via Borghese (Seattle Dancer) won a G3 at the Curragh and a G2 at Saratoga.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa exported Venetian Pride to Argentina in March 2009.  He also sent Mahbooba’s dam Sogha (Red Ransom) to Argentina on the same flight.

De Kock continued his onslaught in the Gulf on Thursday night when Zanzamar won the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial.  It was his first winner for Sheikh Hamdan.

The South African bred colt owned a record eerily similar to Solid Choice having won the 2010 Gatecrasher Stakes at Clairwood and running a place in the G1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.

Zanzamar (3c Fort Wood – Zanakiya by Doyoun) gave De Kock his fourth win in the 2000 Guineas Trial over the last five years.  “I was concerned that both the trip and Tapeta surface may count against him,” De Kock said.  “I suppose class comes through although I don’t know the strength of the horses he beat.”