Zackey to give hope

With Keagan de Melo plying his trade in Hong Kong, Craig Zackey picked up the excellent opportunity of becoming first-choice jockey for Khaya Stables.

That has resulted in Zackey picking up the ride on talented Khaya’s Hope in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m on the turf, at Fairview today.

The four-year-old The United States gelding is trained by Gavin Smith and has won seven of his 15 races and has placed on seven other occasions.

However, if one studies his form over 1400m on turf, the percentages are even better – four runs, three wins and a short-head second.

Khaya’s Hope scored on the Polytrack for the first time in his last start, his fourth attempt on the surface, and he only just got there, but he did seem to have matters in hand from a long way out.

Zackey was aboard the gelding in his penultimate start when he beat top sprinter and stable companion Cruise Control by an impressive 2.50 lengths. That was Khaya's Hope’s most impressive win so far.

A wide No 12 draw and the fact he will be returning from a break are obviously of concern but he has won both of his start on the turf after a layoff. His only two defeats after a break came on the Polytrack which is clearly not his favourite surface.

The draw is always a concern, but he should have too much firepower for his opposition this time. He is the best weighted runner by at least 2kg in theory but in practice, thanks to a 2.5kg apprentice allowance, next best weighted, Prince Of Fire, holds that position by just 0.5kg.

Many pundits point out that the allowance is given to balance out the disadvantage of the lack of experience, but as Piere Strydom always says, “2.5kg is still 2.5kg”.