Zilbiyr eyes Cup Day start
2. JACK RABBIT VINEYARD HANDICAP 2400m
CONNECTIONS of Zilbiyr appear set to target the 2800m race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day after an impressive win in the Jack Rabbit Vineyard Handicap yesterday.
Trainer Robert Kingston said that provided there was enough give in the ground, the five-year-old was likely to be tried at the longer distance after pipping King Way at the post in the 2400m race at Geelong.
“We were coming here today to get him out to that distance but there is the long race on Melbourne Cup Day, the 2800m one,” Kingston said.
“I think when he hit the front he was still looking around so I’d probably go that distance with him with a set of blinkers on.
“He’s bred that way but the wet ground is important. He needs a bit of give in the ground so I’m not going to run him at Flemington if it’s rock hard.
“There are some lovely 3000m races at the Valley and that type of thing, and we are gearing everything towards next winter with him.
“He’s had two wins this prep, a third and a fourth, so we’ll see, but Moonee Valley has some nice cushion in the ground.”
King Way lead for the majority of the race and tried gallantly to hold off the chasing pack down the straight, but the well-weighted Zilbiyr showed a nice turn of foot to claim the win and give apprentice jockey Beau Mertens some reward for a superb ride.
Mertens said it was encouraging to have trainers show faith in him at such an important time of the year.
“I thought my rides might have slowed up a little bit coming into the spring but it’s really good to have the support of the trainers,” Mertens said.
“I’m getting on some quality horses and they’re getting up for me too, so I’m glad to be having that luck.”