Not many Group One winners on the Flat go hurdling but that is the plan for Jo Hughes’ Zafisio.
Winner of the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud as a juvenile when with Paul Blockley, the son of Efisio also won two Group Threes as a three-year-old.
As his form tailed off last year he has now been gelded and his hurdling debut is imminent.
“We’re just keeping our options open,” Hughes said.
“We’ve entered him for Ayr and he has an option at Plumpton so we’re not short of options. We just want to make sure we get his first run right.
“He’s been schooling brilliantly and he actually jumps fences better than hurdles. He’s electric.
“The thing is he must have soft ground.
“I’m not sure if I’m excited or frightened by the prospect of sending a Group One winner hurdling!
“His mind was wandering on the Flat so we thought the best thing to do was geld him and now we have the option of hurdling.
“It’s the same people involved and they’ve had some great days, he’s taken us to France, Germany, Ireland and who knows where he could end up.
“He’s still very talented and has always had a very high cruising speed. I hope he stays two miles (3200m).
“He settles very well and if he does stay he could be hard to beat if he takes to it.”
PA AAP TURF
