Zaaki out to right a wrong
Zaaki’s connections only need to look 12 months back to remember there are no sure things in racing.
The $10m money earner was brought undone as a $1.24 favourite in last year’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), but the Annabel Neasham-trained star is looking at a completely different set of circumstances this time around.
While the rising nine-yearold is staring Father Time in the face, he has been well supported by punters and backed into an odds-on quote as he looks to right the wrong of last year’s mishap.
Coming off a taxing autumn, Zaaki was defeated by Huetor after the race was moved to the unsuitable Eagle Farm due to wet weather and extended to 2100m.
Back to the scene of his seven-length demolition in the same race in 2021, confidence is high he can return to his former glory in Saturday’s $1m feature, where he is also racing for a $200,000 bonus as the winner of the Hollindale Stakes.
“It was the end of a long preparation that time, it is much different this time, he hasn’t come through a Queen Elizabeth on a heavy track and a Hollindale on the same,” Neasham’s Queensland assistant trainer Todd Pollard said. “When they go into a race a short favourite like he was, you’re always hoping they win, but you know deep down there are no certainties in racing.
“It’d be interesting to see how he’d handle Eagle Farm this year because it is a completely different surface this year to last.
“We found a few horses didn’t race well on it, now coming back they are, so there is a complete turnaround.
“The distance is also in his favour this year, it was 2100m because they moved the race last year and that is right at top of his limits.”
With superstar James McDonald again in the saddle, Pollard said the champion hoop will have to weave his magic from barrier 11.
“The race looks much like the Hollindale, you don’t envisage there is much speed in it and he has drawn wide again, but he was a bit tardy out that time so the key is to get him to jump and cross them,” he said.
“There were plenty trying to make it difficult for him going into the first corner in the Hollindale and you’d imagine it will be the same on Saturday.”
After opening a $2.30 favourite following Tuesday’s barrier draw, the punters have continued to pile in to Zaaki, pushing his quote into an oddson figure.