3 minute read

Neasham-trained import looking to back-up strong Doncaster Mile effort

Having run an eye-catching sixth in the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) on his first start in Australia on April 10, Annabel Neasham is hopeful Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux) can make his presence felt in the JRA Plate (Gr 3, 2000m) at Randwick on Saturday. 

A dual Group 3 winner when trained by Sir Micheal Stoute in Britain, Zaaki was purchased by Blanford Bloodstock’s Stu Boman for 150,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale earlier this year and he has drawn barrier five in the Saturday’s Group 3 and will be ridden by James McDonald. 

Neasham was pleased with the gelding’s first-up run and said she thought he could have finished in the top three if he had had more luck in running. 

"I wouldn't have been surprised if he ran top three and with a bit more luck or a better gate he probably would have,'' Neasham said.

"If he can produce what he did first-up in the Donnie he's going to be a leading contender.

"It does everybody's confidence, including the horse, good to win so you always want to get their head in front when you can. It can take them a prep or so to settle into it but so far he looks like he's adapted fairly quickly.

"His work had been very good. I do think he will end up winning a very nice race over here,'' she said.

"We're back to a lesser grade so he is entitled to carry that bit more weight and hopefully J-Mac offsets that.

"He's come through the Donnie well, he's a bit more settled as he was very fresh going into the race.

"It's probably knocked the edge off him which will be no bad thing stepping up to the 2000 metres."

Meanwhile Neasham will also saddle up Queen Of Wizardry (Not A Single Doubt) in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on Saturday having been last seen running sixth in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and Neasham is hoping to see the best of the two-year-old over the longer distance. 

"Her win was on top of the ground so we're happy to go back to that surface but I think more to the point she's been looking for a mile,'' Neasham said.

"The top two in the market (Hilal and Captivant) look good progressive horses and if they can run the mile will be hard to beat but my horse is the obvious one that wants the extra distance.

"It looks a really open race, this has been her grand final since the day after the Magic Millions so she will be peaking."