Zatacla goes for broke
TRAINER John Blacker has long had a big opinion of his four-year-old Zatacla, which is why he has no problem with the gelding facing a five-day back-up in the Coral Sea Handicap over 1600m in Hobart tomorrow.
Zatacla made it three wins in succession when he scored an emphatic win over 1420m in Launceston on Tuesday night, after which the trainer suggested he could send the horse around again on Sunday.
“This horse absolutely thrives on racing and while he’s in such great form we’ll keep looking for suitable races for him,” Blacker said.
“I had to wait a day to see how the horse had come through the run on Tuesday night, but he was bouncing around his yard the next morning and ate up every oat in his bin.
“He steps up to the 1600m again on Sunday, but he’s won his past two over that trip. If he comes through this run without any hitches he’ll more than likely go around in an open handicap over 2100m a fortnight later in Launceston.
“I’ve had in the back of my mind for a while that he might measure up over 2400m and be a major cups prospect next season so the 2100m race in a fortnight will be a sort of test.”
Blacker has accepted with three others in Zatacla’s race.
He also will saddle up Tasmanian Oaks placegetter Gone Girl, Welcome Invader which also won over 1600m in Launceston on Tuesday night and Beaufort Lad, which was third to Zatacla on Tuesday night. Beaufort Lad defeated Zatacla four starts back in Hobart, but the last time they clashed at the venue Beaufort Lad finished sixth and almost eight lengths from Zatacla. But Beaufort Lad will meet Zatacla 3kg better tomorrow.
Gone Girl may struggle against the older and more experienced rivals, while Welcome Invader is a genuine place hope.