Unlucky in running here 12 months ago (4th then to Top Spin), Zaralabad among the older generation of the 14 strong line-up for the www.thetote.com Kingdom Gold Cup Handicap, got the job done in the 2011 renewal of the valuable mile and three quarter contest to bring up a double for his pilot Johnny Murtagh (earlier successful on French Quebec at Killarney.
Many came there with their chances up the straight here, but it was a case of the old dog for the hard road inside the final furlong as the seven-year-old Zaralabad forged on to beat Dimona (got a bump when challenging).
Charlie Swan trains Zaralabad, a winner at Bellewstown a week back, for Noel O'Flaherty and he said: "He obviously comes right at this time of year and he was unlucky here last year.
"He likes tight tracks and fast ground. He was drawn high in the amateur handicap at Galway (down the field there) and they went no pace there - he needs a true run race.
"I'm not sure where we'll go from here. The good handicap at Naas in October where he was fourth last year (behind Gimli's Rock could be a target for him again."
