Zaaki on the right track

Zaaki on the way to winning the Diomed Stakes last year

ZAAKI can get his season off to a perfect start with victory in the MansionBet’s Beaten By A Head Diomed Stakes at Newbury.

The five-year-old won this Group Three heat last year when it was run at its traditional Epsom home and he can prove just as capable at this track.

Zaaki continued to excel last season after that Diomed win, running the ill-fated Beat The Bank to a nose in the Summer Mile before adding the Strensall Stakes at York to his tally and chasing home Group One performer Benbatl at Newmarket.

He suffered just two disappointments, most notably when dropping back to seven furlongs for the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and finding himself a bit short of the necessary toe to make his presence felt.

For his final outing, Sir Michael Stoute set him a tough task in upping him to Group One company in the Hong Kong Mile last December.

Zaaki was far from disgraced at Sha Tin, finishing four and a half lengths back in eighth after running pretty well for three-quarters of the race.

He has a bit to find with King Of Comedy on the bare numbers, but Zaaki has done nothing but improve over the last two seasons and he might not have reached the limit of his ability yet.

Franconia was only narrowly beaten on her racecourse bow in November and she can make a successful leap to Listed company in the British Stallion Studs EBF/MansionBet Abingdon Fillies’ Stakes.

A beautifully-bred Frankel half-sister to Group One winner Winsili, Franconia conceded first run to a more experienced rival on her debut and just failed to catch her by a neck at the line.

The experience should not be lost on her and stepping up to 10 furlongs should be a plus judged on pedigree.