Cox Plate favourite ready for take off in Sydney barrier trial

Sydney trainer Annabel Neasham says the only race that is 100 per cent locked in for Zaaki is the Cox Plate.

The highly-regarded import is the $4 favourite in the TAB Fixed Odds Cox Plate market and he’s set to make his first public appearance this time around in a Warwick Farm barrier trial on Monday.

Neasham has said the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) is slated for the seven-year-old gelding’s return but the final decision won’t be made until after Zaaki’s performance in a 900 metre course proper barrier trial for Group performed horses.

“I set the Tramway as the first race for him but we’ll see how he trials, whether he gets to the races before hand or not but I have set that as the first date for him,” Neasham said.

“There’s no rush, the Cox Plate is still a fair while away.

“The Cox Plate is an iconic race and if there’s one race I could pick to win, that’s it so it’s just about working out the way to get there. There’s so many options, I don’t need to decide now.

Annabel Neasham hugs James McDonald after he and Zaaki won the Q22 at Eagle Farm in June. Picture: Grant Peters–Trackside PhotographySource:Supplied

“It’s one of those things you could probably get stressed about but there’s just no point, there’s so many options.

“There’s a George Main in Sydney but there’s also the Underwood in Melbourne and I still haven’t locked in where his second run is going to be.

“If I have to send staff down to quarantine (in Melbourne) so be it. I’ve got a good enough team I think that I would still send him down.

“He’s probably going to have four runs this prep.

"This is one of the easiest Doomben Cup wins in the history of the race."

ZAAKI!

WOWEEEEE! pic.twitter.com/Zss5B4fMa6

“I definitely want to start him in Sydney and the option is he either has three runs in Melbourne or two in Sydney and two in Victoria.

“I don’t know, it’s so hard to plan with everything that is going on and there are suitable options in both states.

“I’ll make the call when I have to. I understand he’s a high-profile horse and everyone wants to know where he’s going but I don’t know so I don’t want to be pressurised into telling people where he’s going when it could change.”

Zaaki and James McDonald after winning the Doomben Cup. Picture: Grant Peters–Trackside PhotographySource:The Courier-Mail

Zaaki announced himself as a genuine weight-for-age star when shining brightly during the Queensland winter carnival with dominant wins in the Group 1 Doomben Cup, the $1.2 million Q22 and the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes by a combined margin of 10-3/4 lengths.

“He’s coming up super,” Neasham said. “He’s a very enthusiastic horse. I’m just trying to harness that enthusiasm.

“His usual track rider, who’ll be the one trialling him, is really happy with how he’s progressing.

“He’ll have an easy trial. I’m sure he’ll trial fairly forward anyway but it’ll be very much on the bridle.

“We’re certainly on time, if anything slightly ahead of schedule.

“He comes up quick.

ZAAKI TOO GOOD! ?

He takes out the G2 Sky Racing Q22 for @ANeashamRacing & @mcacajamez ? pic.twitter.com/MU44tD7ZpK

“I remember the first time I trialled him earlier this year he was much more forward than I expected and coming into this campaign he only had three weeks off so he held some residual fitness.

“He’s held onto a fair bit I think.”

Meanwhile, Neasham’s other Cox Plate bound galloper Mo’unga also steps out at the Warwick Farm trials on Monday, contesting a Group trial over 1100 metres.

TAB Fixed Odds has Mo’unga listed as a $21 chance in the Cox Plate.

“He’s coming up well,” Neasham said. “You never get a huge guide off him in trials, he never trials well – ever.

“It’s hard to get a guide, he looks great, his work has been really good and all being well, he’ll kick off in the Winx Stakes.”

Originally published asZaaki set to launch Cox Plate campaign

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