French import debuts for Ciaron Maher with hopes of emulating Cup winner's feats.
The Melbourne Cup is yet to be mentioned but Ciaron Maher’s training team will be hoping that they can achieve some level of success near that race with new acquisition Zarakem from France.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runners generally don’t find their way to Australian shores but with assistant trainer Jack Turnbull is thinking positively that they can set they eight-year-old stallion on a path to springtime staying handicaps.
Zarakem brings a record of six wins and one placings in 14 starts, including his sixth placing in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) at Longchamp last October and steps out for Maher for the first time in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
“He’s been over for a few months now but this is the kick-off point,” Turnbull Said.
“I’d say we’d want to see this and then see what more is to come but his form is over further.
‘He’s an exciting horse and hopefully he can reproduce that off the plane.”
Being realistic, no commitments towards Australia’s most famous race, the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) where fellow Arc runner and Cup winner Gold Trip provided Maher with his first in the event in 2022, are being made but the team are keeping a keen eye on the Zarakem’s progress for bigger things later this year.
“It is difficult to run well off the plane at the elite level but it can be done,”
“His trackwork has been fine and he’s sound, which is another big aspect and up and going at the right time.”
Zarakem is at $31 across markets with the Via Sistina the $1.85 favourite.
Also on the Randwick card, Maher has King Valley engaged in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (2000m) – the final event of the day – and drawn barrier six.
Kings Valley finished second last start over 2000-metres at Flemington on February 15 when beaten by Revelare who is also engaged in the second race at the Flemington on Saturday.
“This is a good race for him,” Turnbull said.
“He is drawn to get a perfect run and he is progressive.
“He’s hard fit and then there’s a couple of options and if he wins on Saturday, his rating will lift to look at long-term plans for handicap staying races in the spring.
“He just bumped into a progressive horse last time.”
