Zaaki ready for Hollindale Stakes as Queensland carnival kicks off
Multiple Group One winner Zaaki heads north to kick off his Queensland Racing Carnival campaign, starting with the A.D Hollindale Stakes on Saturday.
The Leroidesanimaux x Kesara gelding has conquered Group races at Flemington (Mackinnon Stakes), Randwick (Tramway Stakes), Eagle Farm (Sky Racing Q22), Doomben (Doomben Cup) and now looks to tick off the Group 2 feature at the Sunshine Coast.
Amassing $9.9 million in prizemoney this will be his third tilt in Queensland and trainer Annabel Neasham is confident of what is to come.
“I think the track at Sunshine Coast will really suit him,” she said.
“He travelled up last weekend and he has already had a look around at Eagle Farm.
“He seems to grow another leg up here. He loves it.”
Queensland has become a happy hunting ground for the stable star and helped him make his name two years ago, when he won the Hollindale Stakes by 2.2L before dominating the Group One Doomben Cup, in a seven length win.
James McDonald retains the ride on the eight-year-old after finishing second in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes last month in his return after a seven-week spell.
“We freshened him up and those two weeks before the All Aged, we started to see signs that the old Zaaki had come back,” the trainer said.
“It was such a relief.
“Even since that run, he has really come back into his own and he is really fresh up here.
“He is back to his old quirky self and that’s where we want him to be.”
Currently $1.60 with online bookmakers, Zaaki is likely to shorten having proven time and time again the star quality he possesses.
“Its going to be a very tough race with a great field, a lot of Sydney horses coming up,” Neasham said.
“But the way he is going and I never could have imagined he would run second behind Giga Kick in a Group One weight for age.
“That’s the best we have ever seen him return and hopefully that is going to translate up here.”
Zaaki has won the last two editions of the Hollindale Stakes and will make history if he to make it three straight victories in the 1800m contest.