GISW Zulu Kingdom Wins Third Straight in Manila at the Spa

Two months after he won the newly upgraded GI American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs as the favorite and a week after he was scratched out of the doubly rescheduled, weather-impacted GIII Penn Mile, Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (r, 3, Ten Sovereigns {Ire}–Zindziswa, by Smart Strike) was back in the winner's circle, capturing Saratoga's $200,000 GIII Manila Stakes Friday. Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael J. Caruso, Zulu Kingdom is now five for six since coming stateside and six for seven overall.

The cut back in distance from 1 1/16 miles to eight furlongs was no problem for the Chad Brown trainee, who broke sharply and stuck his head in front for several strides before GIII Transylvania third and American Turf eighth Maui Strong (Kitten's Joy) cut the corner to his inside on the first bend to take control of the race. Zulu Kingdom tracked the pacesetter to his outside through fractions of :23.19 and :46.85, threatening from a close second while all the others except longshot Capitol Hill (Into Mischief)-who was far back–bunched up closely behind the top two. Floated a little wide on the final turn, Zulu Kingdom was a bit tardy to change leads, but quickly asserted himself, shaking clear and holding sway by three-quarters of a length to run the mile in a sharp 1:33.11. Capitol Hill came flying late to nab second, while stakes-placed Tiz Dashing (Tiz the Law), who had been in touch with the leaders all along, held third.

“He is expected to win, so it is a little added pressure, but you always like to have a 2-5 shot, knowing you have the best horse, at least on paper. The horse ran super,” said winning trainer Chad Brown.

“With all the scratches, [Flavien] Prat and I decided in the paddock just let him be forward, and go to the lead, I thought maybe [Maui Strong] on paper would show some speed, which he did, so it was one of those instances where the race really developed how we handicapped it in the paddock. We thought maybe [Maui Strong] would go, if he does, sit next to him, just wait until you turn for home, let him loose, and he did that.”

In addition to his American Turf win, Zulu Kingdom won the GIII With Anticipation Stakes over this course last August in his U.S. debut for Brown after breaking his maiden at Saint-Cloud for Andre Fabre. A win in the GII Pilgrim Stakes at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet made him three for three to start his career; he was put away for the year after a seventh-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Zulu Kingdom kicked off his sophomore season in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa in March, which led into the American Turf. In the latter, he beat Test Score (Lookin At Lucky), who captured the GI Belmont Derby Friday one race after the Manila.

Brown said Zulu Kingdom may next target the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes Aug. 1. He added: “Part of my thinking with skipping the [Belmont] Derby, the next race, even though it was a much bigger purse, was to keep him at a mile the next couple starts, I just think he is better doing that. The Hall of Fame is a much bigger purse, and then down the road I'll think about running him farther.”

Pedigree Notes:

Multiple Group 1 winner Ten Sovereigns (Ire) spent his first five years at stud standing next to his sire, No Nay Never, at Coolmore Ireland before being purchased by bloodstock agent Cem Ozbelge on behalf of Turkish owner/breeder Ali Celikoglu late last year. He stood the 2025 season in Turkey. Zulu Kingdom is one of two graded winners and 10 black-type winners for Ten Sovereigns, who also had Tepin Stakes winner Lush Lips (GB) at Churchill Downs last Saturday.

Zulu Kingdom's dam Zindziswa, a daughter of prolific broodmare sire Smart Strike (204 stakes winners as a damsire), won two races in France at three and has also produced French listed winner Zulu Warrior (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). Her most recently reported foal is the 2-year-old Zulu Chant (Ire) (Magna Grecia {Ire}), who made his first start June 3 at Saint-Cloud, finishing third for Zulu Kingdom's early trainer Fabre. The mare is out of dual French group winner Zinziberine, a producer of three stakes winners, including GSW Zanzibari, a full-brother to Zindziswa.

ZULU KINGDOM gets his fifth stakes win in his last six starts as he wins the Grade 3 Manila Stakes under Flavien Prat for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/Wp47d3Bhrv

— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) July 4, 2025

Friday, Saratoga
MANILA S.-GIII, $200,000, Saratoga, 7-4, 3yo, 1mT, 1:33.11, fm.
1–ZULU KINGDOM (IRE), 122, r, 3, by Ten Sovereigns (Ire)
1st Dam: Zindziswa, by Smart Strike
            2nd Dam: Zinziberine, by Zieten
            3rd Dam: Amenixa (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
O-Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and
Michael J. Caruso; B-Ecurie Peregrine SAS (IRE); T-Chad C.
Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $110,000. Lifetime Record: GISW,
7-6-0-0, $910,387. *1/2 to Zulu Warrior (Fr) (Saxon Warrior
{Jpn}), SW-Fr, $115,620. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Capitol Hill, 118, c, 3, Into Mischief–Meadowsweet, by Smart
Strike. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
O-Tranquility Lake Farms LLC; B-Pam & Martin Wygod (KY);
T-William I. Mott. $40,000.
3–Tiz Dashing, 118, c, 3, Tiz the Law–Breaking Beauty, by Into
Mischief. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($215,000 Wlg '22
FTKNOV). O-Sackatoga Stable; B-Camas Park Stud (KY);
T-Barclay Tagg. $24,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 1. Odds: 0.40, 20.80, 24.50.
Also Ran: Maui Strong, Revolutionnaire (Fr), Reagan's Wit, Mythical Man, Flat to Da Mat. Scratched: Fire Pit, Golden Channel, Strate Cash, Uncatalyzed (GB). Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.