Darren Weir has won four Hobart Cups and the trainer has earmarked Zabisco as a potential contender to chase a fifth after the horse’s Eclipse Stakes win at Sandown.
Zabisco ($10) was having his third run back from an injury lay-off and powered home under Kerrin McEvoy to grab the Gai Waterhouse-trained Pheidon ($4.80) right on the line in Saturday’s Group Three 1800-metre race.
Extra Zero ($20) hit the line strongly for third.
Zabisco, Kerrin McEvoy – Photo by Sarah Ebbett
A son of Zabeel, Zabisco has not raced beyond 2040m but the Hobart and Launceston Cups over 2400m in February are an option for the seven-year-old and Weir said the distance would not be a concern.
“I thought he might have been a good one for the Tassie carnival, so that might be something to look at,” Weir said.
“Or maybe even Brisbane down the track.”
Zabsico, formerly trained by Mike Moroney, was having his fourth start for Weir in the Eclipse Stakes.
After winning at Warrnambool in his first start for Weir at the end of 2013, Zabsico suffered an injury which kept him off the scene until the Seymour Cup last month.
Weir praised the ride of McEvoy aboard Zabisco.
“He’s got to settle back and you’ve got to produce him late and just save him for the last furlong. Kerrin did that terrific today,” Weir said.
McEvoy said it was his first winner for the Weir stable and the victory also brought up a race-to-race double for the jockey after taking out the Zipping Classic on Au Revoir.
