Jamie Kah has answered a call from Annabel Neasham to make the trip to Sydney to test Zaaki in an important barrier trial as the star galloper continues his build-up to the spring.
Neasham was keen to book a jockey who knew Zaaki well and with regular rider James Mcdonald committed to Golden Slipper winner Shinzo in the same 900m Rosehill heat, she reached out to Kah.
Kah, who is working her way back towards race riding following a serious fall at Flemington in March, has ridden Zaaki in seven of his starts, including his 2022 All Star Mile and Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes victories.
“James is on Shinzo in the trial so I thought, ‘who else do we get?'” Neasham said.
“Jamie knows him just as well.
“She’s obviously just getting back to the trials now and getting back in the saddle and she was keen.
“James and Jamie are really the only two riders that have ridden him and it’s good to get feedback from those people that know him.”
McDonald partnered Zaaki in an exhibition gallop with stablemate Sunshine In Paris at Rosehill on Saturday and Neasham said no rider had been locked in for the spring mount.
“We haven’t booked anyone for anything yet, but Jamie has got a very good association with him,” Neasham said.
“He’s going to trial Friday and then we’ll make a plan from there, but he’s going great guns.”
Zaaki will be among a host of top gallopers stepping out at Friday’s Rosehill trial session.
Chris Waller’s juvenile triple crown-winning duo of Shinzo and Militarize will have their second trials but with their slated return date still a month away, the champion trainer says they won’t be overtaxed.
“If we wait until The Run To The Rose, it’s still four or five weeks away so it’s a matter of what they do before that,” Waller said.
“But they won’t be out to do too much because there is still a long way to go.”
Queensland Derby winner Kovalica, new recruit Montefilia and Hawkesbury Crown winner Princess Grace will also be among Waller’s trial squad, while Tulloch Lodge will put several of their carnival players through their paces, including high-class pair Alligator Blood and Alcohol Free.
