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Arrowfield sire Australian-bred Epaulette 3YO Soqrat claimed his second Group 1 win in South Africa when he won the Cape Guineas at Kenilworth on December 15.
Foaled and raised at Yarraman Park, Soqrat is raced by his breeder Sheikh Hamdan under his Shadwell Stud banner.
Soqrat, the eighth Cape Guineas winner trained by Mike De Kock, was the champion South African 2YO colt last season when he won the G1 Champion Stakes at Greyville.Soqrat (Epaulette x Elzeeza by Hussonet) is a half-brother to recent Warwick Farm trial winner Hafaawa, a Redoute's Choice youngster being prepared by Lindsay Park for Sheikh Hamdan.
Soqrat’s dam Elzeeza won two of her eight starts and is also the dam of the Hard Spun winner Akhlaaq from the family of Hong Kong G1 winner Lucky Bubbles.Soqrat has now won four of his six outings and is the only G1 winner to date by Golden Rose winner Epaulette.
Soqrat’s next target is expected to be the G1 Queen’s Plate in Cape Town on January 5.The Shadwell/Yarraman Park partnership sees the Scone stud farm foaling down the majority of Sheikh Hamdan’s Australian mares.
“We look after about 40 mares for Shadwell,” said Yarraman Park’s Harry Mitchell.“Angus Gold usually selects around six to eight of the foals to go across to South Africa each year. South Africa is a bit of a springboard for those good enough to go on to race in Dubai and Europe.”