Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
The Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki put 7l on his rivals in the G1 Doomben Cup to earn favouritism for the G1 Cox Plate and he was again in a class of his own in Saturday’s G2 Sky Racing Q22, formerly the PJ O’Shea S., at Eagle Farm.
Zaaki has now won three of his five runs since relocating to Neasham’s yard from Sir Michael Stoute’s stable. He landed in Australia as a dual Group 3 winner and has rapidly risen to a new level.
He was sixth in the G1 Doncaster H. to open his Southern Hemisphere career and, following a runner-up finish in the G3 Japan Racing Association Plate, has reeled off effortless wins in the G2 Hollindale S., the Doomben Cup and now the Q22.
Zaaki sat in second or third spot under James McDonald and took control of the race 300 metres from home.
“He just did what he had to do and I’m so lucky to have a horse like this so early on. I have loved him from day one and from then he’s looked like he was always going to be a star,” Neasham said.
“You don’t run them first-up in a Doncaster unless you have a big opinion. I just wish the Cox Plate was in two weeks.”
“You don’t run them first-up in a Doncaster unless you have a big opinion. I just wish the Cox Plate was in two weeks.” – Annabel Neasham
Neasham and McDonald didn’t go into the Q22 with any hard and fast plan and let Zaaki do his own thing.
“We had a word and said we won’t over complicate it and just ride him second or third and take it up if no-one else wanted to,” Neasham said.
“It is important with the horse to use his high cruising speed. He was going up a bit in trip and this (2200 metres) is the furthest he’s gone.
“They went at a good clip in the Doomben Cup and he was still very easy on the line so I didn’t think it would pose any problems.”
James McDonald and Annabel Neasham when Zaaki (GB) won the G1 Doomben Cup | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Effortless performance
Zaaki travelled boldly near the pace on Saturday and it was just a matter of when McDonald was going to ask a serious question of the horse. When he did, the response was impressive and they zipped clear to score by yet another wide margin.
“I could see James grinning over the line, there was never really any doubt about it,” Neasham said.
"I could see James (McDonald) grinning over the line, there was never really any doubt about it." - Annabel Neasham
“The horse is in such good order and he likes it on top of the ground. The big galloping track really suits him and if we weren’t happy with him he wouldn’t have been here.
“It’s been nice to have three weeks between runs. He didn’t need much freshening up, he’s a naturally enthusiastic horse and it's great to see from a 6-year-old.”
Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) covered extra ground near the pace and he stuck on resolutely for second ahead of Paths Of Glory (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who came on well from the back and Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) was next to cross the line.
Zaaki was purchased for 150,000 gns (AU$285,825) at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale by Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman on behalf of Neasham and her stable clients.
He is a son of Kesara (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and she is a half-sister to Persona Grata (GB) (Sir Percy (GB}), a dual Listed winner in France, and their dam is a half-sister to the two-time Group 1 winner Altieri (GB) (Selkirk {GB}).
