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.