Zanzibar bids for repeat win Ken Condon is double-handed as he tries to land the featured www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap for the second successive time on Friday, with last year’s winner Strait Of Zanzibar joined by stablemate In Salutem. Strait Of Zanzibar won this on his reappearance last year but this time the five-year-old gelding has the benefit of an outing having finished a creditable second to Iron Major on his seasonal debut here last Friday. In Salutem meanwhile cut little ice following a four-month break when last of four behind the progressive Maontri last month but Condon is hoping for a good run by both his charges. He said, “Strait Of Zanzibar won the corresponding race last year and he ran a good race last week. He’s a tough horse so the turnaround of just a week will be okay for him. He’s handicapped to run well as he won it last year off 82 and is now 7lb lower. “A mile was too far for In Salutem last time but he’s improved from that run. He might be a bit high in the ratings but seven furlongs will be more suitable for him. He hasn’t come in his coat just yet but he’s getting there.” Fellow Curragh trainer Michael O’Callaghan is also hopeful of a big run from Fastidious, who has already won over the course and distance this year. “He seems to be a seven furlong specialist, and he won with a little bit in hand at Dundalk last month even though I thought he’d need it. The plan was then to run at the Curragh but the ground went against him. “He needed that run at Dundalk and is a bigger and stronger horse this year. He’s in good form. He needs to dictate rather than simply make the running, so ideally we’d like to steady it up early as he’s got a great turn of foot. O’Callaghan, who only took out a licence less than two years ago, is also represented by another recent winner half an hour later as Mr Bounty bids to follow up a Kempton victory in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap. “We decided to go to Kempton as the ratings bands are a lot tighter in England compared to the 47-65 races in Ireland. He won a 47-55 race in Kempton and hopefully he’ll get a confidence boost from that as he’s always worked well at home. Getting his head in front could make a big difference to him. “He’s always had a few health problems and we’ve been minding him and trying to get him right. Hopefully he can build on that win.”
