The Cox Plate can’t come quickly enough for young trainer Annabel Neasham, who was left pinching herself after Zaaki turned in another dominant performance to capture the $1.2 million Q22.
While not quite as brilliant as he was in the Doomben Cup, Zaaki never looked in serious danger as James McDonald sooled him to the front at the top of the Eagle Farm straight and kept him going to score comfortably.
Neasham only took out her trainers’ licence at the start of the season and has already captured two Group 1 wins courtesy of Mo’unga in the Rosehill Guineas and Zaaki in the Doomben Cup.
The latter’s effort to back up his last-start performance with another high-class display in Saturday’s Q22 (2200m) has Neasham excited for the spring.
A three-time stakes winner in England, Zaaki arrived at her stable earlier this year and has now won three of his five Australian starts
“I’m just so lucky to have a horse like this. I just can’t believe I got a horse like this so early on,” Neasham said.
“I’ve loved him from day one. From day one, he’s looked like he’s going to be a star. You don’t run them in a Doncaster first-up unless you have a big opinion of him.
“He has just held onto his condition and form. I just wish the Cox Plate was in two weeks.”
Zaaki had a stranglehold on betting to start a $1.26 favourite and scored by 1-1/2 lengths over Homesman ($26) with Paths Of Glory ($31) turning in his usual honest effort, another short neck away in third.
Toffee Tongue was eased out of the race by Nash Rawiller and failed to finish but the mare was able to walk back to the mounting enclosure.
