3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 1 Underwood Stakes won by Zaaki at Sandown on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Zaaki (Craig Williams/Annabel Neasham) - $1.18F
2nd: Probabeel (Brett Prebble/Jamie Richards) - $7.50
3rd: Superstorm (Damien Oliver/Danny O'Brien) - $21
Winning Time: 1:48.20 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 2L x 1¾L
Simply dominant!
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 25, 2021
Job done with Zaaki in the G1 Underwood Stakes. @annabelneasham @CWilliamsJockey @MelbRacingClub pic.twitter.com/lgBpdfUN4O
Winning Trainer: Annabel Neasham (represented by Todd Pollard)
What a performance: "Outstanding. Quite nerve racking going into this. You wait two weeks and then it ends up being a five horse field, odds-on favourite and the pressure was really on. Once the saddle was on and he perks up a bit, it's just good to see him out there and doing his business."
Training through quarantine: "There's been a lot of work that has gone into it. He came down on Sunday night. Nick Ryan, he's been a huge asset to us. He's been extra helpful and done everything we could possibly ask."
Was that what you were hoping to see?: "It was good. It was always going to be a concern, a bit of a tactical affair. There wasn't a lot of speed in the race and it was interesting to see Fifty Stars take them up. We thought we might have to do all the leg work and have something come over the top of us late. He's such a good horse, he just tries every time. He's a marvel to have in the stable."
Caulfield Stakes from here?: "Yeah, absolutely. Onto the Caulfield Stakes then the Cox Plate, that's the grand final. It's pretty exciting, he's two-from-two this prep. You talk about the Cox Plate being the grand final, but when he's winning first-up over 1400m and doing it again second-up, we just want to see him keep the ball rolling."
Winning Jockey: Craig Williams
"Nick Ryan and Toby Lake, I'm indebted to them. And thank you to Annabel and the ownership for entrusting me with the ride.
"I just love the preparation, the planning that Annabel has got for Zaaki. Not only am I blessed to ride him but great to see him in Victoria for the three Group 1s. The target is the Cox Plate and I would say after his gallop and today that Annabel has got this horse right where she wants him for his main target to be in two more starts."
Compared to other good WFA horses he has ridden: "Oh, he's good. The think, for me, that makes him feel so good is that I think that he reads his form and he knows he good. He pumps his chest up and the jockey gets on when it comes to raceday and he's a real racehorse.
"In the morning on his own he just floats around. Obviously he covers the ground that well - he's that athletic - that you don't actually realise what he's doing to his opposition. Probabeel, the four that lined up today, they're all Group 1 winners.
"He's really exciting and I'm grateful for the opportunity."
Beaten jockeys:
Damian Lane - The Chosen One: "Honest run. I thought the way he travelled he'd sprint a little better but he can put in a dour one second-up."
Damien Oliver - Superstorm: "I was happy with the run. He ran well. Pretty steady tempo. The winner was too strong for us but he fought it out well with Probabeel and she's a genuine Group 1 horse so he wasn't beaten too far. He can hold his head up pretty high."
John Allen - Fifty Stars: "Disappointing."
Brett Prebble - Probabeel: "Ran super. I think she still peaked on her run and she'll improve from that. As long as she stays on firm tracks like today, she really enjoyed that. Obviously bumped into a superstar but she ran super."
