Brendan McCarthy is hoping a wide barrier doesn’t foil in-form sprinter Zedi Knight’s chances of taking out Saturday’s Listed Shadwell Stud Australasia Stakes at Caulfield.
The Zeditave six-year-old has drawn gate 14 in the field of 12 plus four emergencies but with all the reserves out he will jump from 10.
Trainer Peter Moody said first emergency Returntosender will not to run in the 1440m feature due to a muscle issue.
Zedi Knight stepped up to 1400m for the first time in his 27-start career when he won at Cranbourne under 59.5kg on March 27.
“I’ve been waiting for quite a while to get him out to 1400 metres,” McCarthy said.
The gelding, who cost $44,000 as a yearling at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, has had his share of problems.
“He had a bowed tendon before he raced, viruses and one morning at the track when being led off the pony he got away and ran into a fence,” McCarthy said.
“But despite all those things he’s racing in career-best form.”
The talented Zedi Knight has won three of his last four starts and finished third in the other, taking his overall record to nine wins and eight placings for nearly $430,000 in prizemoney.
His best win to date was over the smart Launay in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington in February.
“He won five of his first six starts and was second in the other, then I took him to Sydney where he ran sixth at Randwick but he hit his head on the barrier,” McCarthy said.
“I had him sold to Hong Kong for $180,000, but he didn’t pass the vet.
“Although it hasn’t worked out too bad and there could be more to come.”
McCarthy had thoughts of trying Zedi Knight in Group One company but elected to bypass the William Reid Stakes and will do the same with The Goodwood.
“I’m now looking at running him in the Victoria Handicap because I recently bought his dam (Sly Sandra) and have his two-year-old half-brother by Dash For Cash so a Group Three win would be good,” he said.
The $125,000 Victoria Hcp (1400m) is at Caulfield on April 23.
Zedi Knight will carry 57kg on Saturday and will again be ridden by Danny Nikolic.
The Mick Price-trained mare Dubleanny is $4 favourite ahead of Lady Lynette at $4.80, Time Matters ($6.50), Carrara ($7.50) with Das Machen at $8.50 and Zedi Knight and Berringama both at $11.
AAP TURF
