Zatacla eyes Caulfield run
TRAINER John Blacker says he will more than likely target a race at Caulfield next month for his talented sprinter-miler Zatacla following the gelding’s effortless win in a benchmark 82 handicap over 1600m in Hobart yesterday.
Zatacla ($3.20) gave his rivals a galloping lesson to score by more than six lengths in what was his most impressive win this preparation.
The gelded son of Al Maher went into the race on the back of a solid victory in a benchmark 72 event over 1600m in Launceston 11 days earlier.
“I’ve only just got this horse fully fit so we’ve got to look at what’s available locally and interstate in the coming months,” Blacker said.
“He has been raced a lot in the past couple of months because I needed to get him fully fit and now that he is where he needs to be fitness-wise we have to look for the right races.
“A benchmark 84 over 1700 metres at Caulfield would be ideal so that’s what I’ll be looking at this week to see when we can slip him across the water.”
Zatacla finished second to his stablemate Beaufort Lad in Hobart just before finishing fourth in a listed weight-forage race over 1600m won by Hellova Street.
He followed up with a win in Launceston, which is why punters warmed to him yesterday, backing him in to start the $3.20 favourite.
Blacker ended the sevenrace card with a double courtesy of Westwood (Siggy Carr) getting up in the last stride to defeat Aljazmic in a maiden- class one over 1600m. Westwood settled worse than midfield, but made ground steadily to the home turn to be poised to pounce when the field straightened for the run home.
But Carr found trouble and had to check her mount and she also copped a bump from Aljazmic when that horse appeared to shift out close to home.
But Blacker’s gelding stuck his nose out where it counted to gain the desired result, much to the pleasure of punters who had backed him in from $11 to start the $4.20 favourite. LIGHTLY raced three-yearold Street Tough will head for a spell after he scored another impressive win in Hobart yesterday.
Street Tough ($1.50 fav) led and while he appeared to be under pressure at the top of the home straight he found plenty when called on by his rider Jason Maskiell to go on and score comfortably from Our Artie and Gee Gee Cats.
“I’ll tip him out now and I’m sure he’ll come back an even better horse next preparation,” trainer Scott Brunton said.
When asked what was the horse’s biggest asset he replied: “He’s a half-brother to Hellova Street.” Hellova Street is the reigning Tasmanian horse of the year and is favourite to win that title again this season.