Annabel Neasham has had a few second thoughts about her decision not to aim Zaaki at the Winx Stakes first-up, but she is equally satisfied it was for the right reasons.
Neasham has opted to tread a patient path with Zaaki this spring and follow a similar template to last year when he launched his campaign in the Tramway Stakes (1400m) after coming off a winter preparation in Brisbane.
While she wonders whether he might have given Saturday’s Group 1 Winx Stakes a shake, Neasham remains focused on the horse’s main goal and his unfinished business in the Cox Plate.
“I kick myself really that I didn’t get him ready for the Winx Stakes, but we went deep enough into the winter to the Doomben Cup, and that was delayed a week as well,” Neasham said.
“It would have been a bit of a rush and his ultimate goal is the Cox Plate so we will use the Tramway as a springboard into something like the George Main (Stakes).”
Zaaki won the Tramway and Underwood Stakes last year and was favourite for the Cox Plate but was scratched on race morning due to an elevated temperature.
He is scheduled to make his second public appearance of the new season in a course proper barrier trial at Hawkesbury on Monday with regular jockey James Mcdonald making the trek to the western Sydney track to partner the eight-year-old.
Stablemate and Q22 winner Numerian is also nearing a return and will have a second trial at the end of the month before resuming in either the Chelmsford or George Main Stakes, both run over a mile at Randwick in September.
Neasham is hoping the import can continue his rise through the grades to emerge as a Caulfield Cup contender.
“He’s going to hopefully head to a Caulfield Cup, I think he’s that sort of horse,” Neasham said.
“He handled the firm track (in the Q22) at Eagle Farm and I think a bit of extra distance won’t do him any harm either.”
Numerian is a $51 in early Caulfield Cup markets while Zaaki is a $6 second pick for the 2022 Cox Plate, behind Saturday’s brilliant Winx Stakes winner Anamoe ($4.50).
