Zakynthos Imprintz is one of the outsiders for Saturday’s Lord Mayor’s Cup but apprentice Lauri Wray is excited by the prospect of riding the gelding in the Rosehill feature.
Wray has ridden two midweek city winners this season and is delighted connections of the Gary Nickson-trained Zakynthos Imprintz have stuck with her for the Listed 2000m event.
“I’m pretty excited that they have left me on to ride him tomorrow, especially being a non-claiming race,” Wray said.
“It’s my first ride in a stakes race and just getting an opportunity to ride in a big race is pretty big for me.”
Wray has ridden Zakynthos Imprintz in all four starts this campaign including a Warwick Farm midweek win over 1400m last month.
The five-year-old gelding was then narrowly beaten by Marden over 1800m at Randwick on Anzac Day.
Zakynthos Imprintz was at $23 with TAB Sportsbet on Friday in a field which includes three Group One winners and a number of other stakes performers.
Wray can’t fault Zakynthos Imprintz and is looking forward to the experience.
“I’ve ridden him this whole preparation and his work has been great,” Wray said.
“After every race I think he’s run a good race and then I gallop him in his next gallop and he’s just improved again.
“It’s a step up in class and a step up in distance.
“We don’t know if he’s going to get the 2000 metres but you’ve got to be in it to win it. He’s got 54 kilos so he’s a good lightweight chance.”
