3 minute read
European import Zaaki hot-favourite to take out Doomben Cup.
Young Warwick Farm-based trainer Annabel Neasham is chasing a second career Group 1 victory when Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux) lines up in Saturday's Doomben Cup (Gr 1, 2000m).
Mo'unga (Savabeel) provided Neasham with her first Group 1 winner in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) in March and she is hoping to land her first Group 1 race in Queensland with Zaaki, who was impressive in winning the A D Hollindale Stakes (Gr 2, 1800m) earlier this month.
"Any Group One is on the bucket list. I enjoy coming up to Queensland and Doomben is a great track, so if we can knock one off there it would be brilliant," Neasham said.
Zaaki will be partnered again by James McDonald and will face Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winner Sir Dragonet (Camelot) and All-Star Mile (1600m) victor Mugatoo (Henrythenavigator) in Saturday's race.
"He's a lovely horse and he has adapted well to Australia. Having said that, I was hoping he would win (last start) but he probably put them away more easily than I think anybody expected," she said.
"Hopefully we can get a repeat performance on Saturday.
"His last piece of work at Doomben on Tuesday was good and he's ready to go."
The Jamie Richards-trained Melody Belle (Commands) will be having her final start in the Group 1 before selling at next week’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and her trainer is hoping for an improved run following her last start tenth in the A D Hollindale.
"The main thing with her is that we don't want her to go out midfield," Richards said.
"We want to see her go out in good fashion like she has for the majority of her career. She has stood the test of time.
"Wherever she ends up, she will be covered by the best stallions that money can buy."
Zaaki was a $2.50 favourite with TAB fixed odds on Thursday, ahead of Sir Dragonet ($4.60) and Mugatoo ($4.80) with that trio dominating early betting.
