Gun Salute works in Dubai

Gun Salute will seek out the Dubai Duty Free on March 29 (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Grade 1 winner GUN SALUTE (Military), who was purchased privately late last
year and shipped to Dubai earlier this month, worked for new trainer Doug Watson
on Monday, according to a report on the Dubai Racing Club’s drcnewswire.com.

With jockey Mick Kinane aboard, the six-year-old bay traveled five furlongs
on the main track at Nad al Sheba.

“He has covered that in exactly a minute, and we are very pleased,” Watson
said. “Mick certainly likes the horse, and he is an exciting addition to our
Carnival team.”

Watson added that Gun Salute would likely use a February 9 turf handicap as a
prep for the March 29 Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), a nearly nine-furlong turf
contest on Dubai World Cup night.

Formerly trained by Bill Mott, Gun Salute captured the Secretariat S. (G1),
American Derby (G2), Hawthorne Derby (G3) and Forerunner S. in 2005. He raced
only once in 2006, finishing third in the Gulfstream Park S. (G1), and was
sidelined for 11 months. Gun Salute took time to regain his best form in 2007,
but he ended his campaign with a smart Keeneland allowance score and a
third-place performance in the River City H. (G3) at Churchill Downs. He has
compiled a record of 19-7-1-4 with $783,099 in earnings.

Gun Salute is now owned by a partnership formed by bloodstock agent Ben
McElroy. Plans call for him to return to the United States after his tilt at the
Duty Free.