James Cummings isn’t conceding the ATC Australian Oaks to odds-on favourite Orchestral, adamant Zardozi can give the Kiwi star a run for her money.
Orchestral outstayed the Godolphin filly at their only clash in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) but in hindsight, Cummings said Zardozi needed the tough middle-distance run after winning the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) in the lead-up.
“There’s a lot to be said for the match practice that Zardozi lacked when the pressure went on in the Vinery,” Cummings said.
“She’s got that now, therefore I think she’s going to be ready to fire.
“It should be ‘game on’ for the Oaks this weekend.”
Both three-year-olds are proven over Saturday’s classic journey, Orchestral triumphant in the New Zealand Derby (2400m), while Zardozi produced a career high when dominant in the VRC Oaks (2500m) in the spring.
Cummings flirted with testing her against the boys in last weekend’s Australian Derby but scratched Zardozi when the track came up heavy, paving the way for another thrilling showdown with Orchestral this weekend.
“I think this is a pretty exciting edition of the Oaks and Zardozi gets an opportunity to rubberstamp what she did in the spring by going to better ground than what we saw last weekend,” Cummings said.
“There’s no doubt her VRC Oaks performance would have her a hugely competitive chance, even against the very impressive New Zealand filly Orchestral.
“Hopefully, with the right run through and being able to put herself into the race, she’ll give herself a chance to turn the tables.”
Zardozi is on the second line of Oaks betting at $4.40 with Orchestral a prohibitive $1.65 favourite to extend a five-race winning sequence that began in January.
If she is victorious on Saturday, it will be her third Group 1 win in succession and a continuation of the wonderful Oaks record of New Zealand-trained fillies, who have taken out four of the past 10 renewals.
