South African Group I winner for Epaulette

Australian bred two year-old colts Soqrat (Epaulette) and Alyaasaat (Dawn Approach (IRE) filled the quinella in the Group I Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville in South Africa on Saturday, both homebred youngsters for Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud that were foaled and raised in the Hunter Valley at Yarraman Park.

The Mike de Kock trained duo fought out the finish of the 1600 metre contest with Soqrat, who started favourite, surging home out wide to charge clear of Alyaasaat and post a two length victory, giving his young Darley based sire Epaulette his first Group I winner.

Soqrat won his first two starts before finishing second in the Group II Greyville Golden Horseshoe Stakes earlier this month, while Alyaasaat was having just his third start following an easy maiden victory at Turffontein.

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 rising two year-old Redoute's Choice filly called Hafaawa that will be trained at Lindsay Park and a colt by Snitzel to follow. She missed last spring to Not a Single Doubt.

Soqrat is the third stakes-winner for dual Group I winner Epaulette joining classy fillies Khulaasa and Meryl.

Epaulette stands at Darley this spring at a fee of $27,500, while Alyaasaat's sire Dawn Approach is also headed back to Australia for Darley this year at a fee of $19,250.