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Zeffiro led a Japanese two-three-four in H.H. the Amir Trophy in Qatar on Saturday afternoon (February 17, 2024).
On the final day of the three-day Amir Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, Zeffiro and jockey Joao Moreira went under the wire behind only the winning horse Rebel's Romance in the 2,400-meter Grade 3 affair in Doha.
Trailing Zeffiro to clog up the board in third and fourth place were his Japanese compatriots Satono Glanz and North Bridge, respectively.
The lion's share of the US$2.5 million purse went to Rebel's Romance ($1.425 million), the pride of Godolphin, but the JRA trio took home nearly all of the remaining $1 million-plus with Hong Kong-based Russian Emperor grabbing fifth place.
North Bridge, the 6-year-old trained by Takeshi Okumura, got the race at Al Rayyan Racecourse off to a silky start under Yasunari Iwata, ushering the 11 runners out of the gate.
But the Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel's Romance, with William Buick, all too familiar to Japanese fans, in the saddle, quickly wrested the lead at the first turn.
Yuga Kawada-ridden Satono Glanz, by Satono Diamond out of Cherry Collect, positioned third, and Zeffiro - the 5-year-old son of Deep Impact under the tutelage of Yasutoshi Ikee - brought up the rear during the 2 minute, 28.74 second journey on what appeared to be solid turf conditions in the Qatari capital.
Things got interesting as the pack rounded the final bend and turned for home as Moreira made his move, pushing his horse towards the front with Rebel's Romance still in the lead and Satono Glanz and North Bridge trying to apply pressure on the inside.
Yet with less than 300 meters to go and closing in fast on Rebel's Romance, Zeffiro suddenly and wildly banked out wide. The drift cost him considerable ground, enough for Buick's mount to make a clean run for the finish and to take the tape by a comfortable three lengths.
