ZAAKI AND J-MAC WOW IN CLASSY TRIUMPH
CLASS is a hallmark of Group 1 racing, and the Mackinnon Stakes had an abundance of it.
Zaaki was too classy for his opposition.
James McDonald was at his classy best when giving his rivals no chance of catching Zaaki with a polished front-running ride.
Brett Prebble was also all class as he embraced McDonald after the latter eclipsed his 21-year-old record for the most winners during the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival.
“It was awesome,” the winning rider said. “Just past the post he yelled out, ‘son, son, come here’.
“That was really special to share.” And do not forget trainer Annabel Neasham’s classy philosophical response to her disappointment when Zaaki was scratched from the Cox Plate on the morning of the biggest race of the import’s career.
McDonald had an easy time of things when winning the Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic on Nature Strip two races earlier and had little trouble getting Zaaki home to complete the Group 1 double in the Mackinnon Stakes.
It was not as easy as the ride he enjoyed on potential star Espiona on Thursday. But it was a different type of race.
McDonald dictated the pace of the Mackinnon Stakes to the 600m before Zaaki let down impressively in the straight, dashing well clear at the famous Flemington clock tower
before Prebble’s mount Cascadian got within 1¼ lengths at the finish.
“When you see he’s happy he just cruises along and does his thing,” he said. “I love riding this horse because you just ride him on feel and you just hope he’s got the best with him.”
Neasham said she had a few worries about the import’s fitness given he had not raced since his surprise Might And Power defeat at Caulfield on October 9.
“I was so nervous beforehand,” she said. “He obviously hadn’t run for a month, but it was a beautiful ride by James, who can do no wrong at the moment.
“I knew at the top of the straight that he had such a lapful of horse that I knew it would take a good one to run him down.”
Neasham also prepared the third placegetter Mo’unga.
Mo’unga tried hard but was no match for his older stablemate but she said the stallion would have chances for more Group 1 glory in the autumn.
“He’s not in the shadow (of Zaaki),” Neasham said. “I can’t wait for the autumn with both of those horses.”