Flemington quartet chase Caulfield prize
Simon Zahra and training partner Mathew Ellerton will have 4 runners in one Caulfield race.
It’s not uncommon for stables to have multiple runners in a race.
Chris Waller, Lindsay Park and Darren Weir often have two or more but for a smaller stable like that of Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, it’s a rarity.
The pair saddle four runners in the Changing Places Real Estate Handicap for three-year-olds at Caulfield on Saturday.
Golden Key, Light Romance, Gaudi and Exceltara run for prize money of $120,000 and, with the exception of Golden Key, chase $30,000 in Super VOBIS bonus money.
“Unfortunately it’s a race that has come up that suits the four of them,” Zahra said.
“The carnival has gone now and at this time of year you can have 10 of this type of horse so clashes can be hard to avoid.
“Hopefully one of them can put their hand up.”
A former New Zealander, Golden Key has won his past two starts at Ballarat and Seymour.
“They’ve been encouraging runs in the bush so we thought we’d throw him in the deep end a bit and see whether he sinks or swims,” Zahra said.
“He puts himself there, he travels nice and can quicken.”
Light Romance, the only filly of the quartet, resumes.
She was successful at her debut at Seymour last October and hasn’t raced since winning at Sandown in December.
“She is a first-up winner but this is a different class,” Zahra said.
“She has won at Sandown before but as she gets out in distance she’ll probably be a bit better off.”
Zahra is expecting a forward showing from Gaudi after his first-up fourth at Bendigo early in the month.
“He’s really switched on from that run,” Zahra said.
Zahra described Exceltara as a consistent performer who has one maiden win to his name along with four placings from his eight career starts.
“He hasn’t done a lot wrong, but he’s also being thrown in the deep end going up in class,” Zahra said.