King Zephyr headed for the paddock

Trainer Grahame Begg has confirmed that promising sprinter King Zephyr will head to the paddock for a well-earned break following his unplaced run in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington.

The four-year-old gelding had strung together four straight victories this campaign, including a dominant win over 1400m at Flemington on April 25. Dropping back in distance and rising in class for Saturday’s black-type sprint, King Zephyr was sent out a hot $1.80 favourite with regular rider Jordan Childs aboard.

Despite settling in a good position just behind the speed in the straight-track feature, King Zephyr was unable to accelerate on the soft-rated surface, ultimately finishing 11th — nearly six lengths from the winner.

“The conditions at that part of the day, when the race was run, were pretty atrocious,” Begg said.

“I just felt he was probably a bit too close to the lead. He normally would be further back, but he just jumped and put himself there and he was too close to the speed.

The horses on the inside, they dropped away, and it ended up being the wrong part of the track, I’d say.

He didn’t let down in that ground. At that stage it was nearly a borderline (Heavy) 8.

The inside horses dropped away in that race, the ones up near the lead, closer in anyway.”

While the result was disappointing, Begg reported that King Zephyr had pulled up well and would now enjoy a break of around a month before gearing up for his next preparation.

“He’s done a very good job and we’ve been very happy with him,” Begg said.