Annabel NeashamĀ has done her part in getting Zaaki to peak fitness for the All-Star Mile and it is now up to her jockey Jamie KahĀ to complete the assignment.
The trainer reported that Zaaki was ābucking his brands offā ahead of the $5 million All Star Mile over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday.
She said that was usually a good indication andĀ similar toĀ how Zaaki was before taking out the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in the spring.
āHeāsĀ a pretty easyĀ horse to read,ā Neasham said.
āAlthough heās a seven-year-oldĀ now,Ā there are days when heās full of beans and the days heās not, you know heās not quite right.
āHeās certainly very freshĀ at the momentĀ and the fresher he gets, the better heĀ is.ā
Neasham does not think barrier 15 will be a problem for Zaaki on Saturday, in fact she prefers theĀ wide draw than one closer to the rail as one of her main rivals Iām ThunderstruckĀ has.
She said more important than the draw was having the right jockey aboard.
āJamie has good hands and the important thing with this horse is to get him in a rhythm, not to push or pull him about,ā Neasham said.
āHeās got a naturally big stride and a high cruising speed.
āWeāre never in a rush to comeĀ across, as heās often drawn wide gates, so Iāll leave it up to Jamie.
āSheāll do herĀ homework,Ā but the main thing is to ride him where heās happy.ā
Neasham said there wasĀ severalĀ chances in Saturdayās race.
She said PinstripedĀ was a āflashing light runā in the Australian Guineas, Iām Thunderstruck will be hard to hold out if he gets luck and Inspirational GirlĀ was good in defeating Zaaki in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes atĀ Flemington butĀ rises in weight this time around.
āThere are numerous chances, but I wouldnāt swap my horse for anyone though,ā Neasham said.