Punters are unlikely to see Cox Plate favourite Zaaki again until he lines up in Saturday week’s Group Two Tramway Stakes.
Cox Plate favourite Zaaki will finalise his spring preparations with a jump out at Warwick Farm on Thursday ahead of the Group Two Tramway Stakes (1400m) next Saturday.
The English import rocketed into 2021 Cox Plate favouritism after a seven-length demolition job in the Group One Doomben Cup (2000m) in May.
The seven-year-old has trialled once this campaign, finishing 5-1/2 lengths behind Private Eye in a 900m heat earlier this month.
His trainer Annabel Neasham told Racing HQ Zaaki is going well ahead of the first-up assignment, with the rest of his spring program still up in the air.
“He seems to be working really well and he’s fresh and enthusiastic,” she said.
“We’ll just get the Tramway out of the way first, there’s no real rush.
“We’ll just see the lay of the land with covid etcetera, I would prefer to have my own staff in Melbourne with him if I could.
“There’s a little bit of water to go under the bridge before we make any firm plans.”
Neasham notched up the third Group One victory of her training career with Mo’Unga winning the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The four-year-old stalked champion mare Verry Elleegant throughout the event, running over the top of the field late to get the job done by a quarter of a length.
Neasham is keeping her options open with the stallion prospect but aims to keep Mo’unga and Zaaki separated for as long as possible.
“Either the George Main, or I quite like the idea of the Makybe Diva as well, I think they’re certainly the two options for him,” she said.
“It would be logical to go to a mile now and obviously stick at the Group One weight for age.
“I think a nice big track suits him and I think three weeks between runs is nice as well, but the George Main is there and it’s at home and a viable option as well.
“I think they’re both horses (Mo’unga and Zaaki) that can win those sort of races.
“When there’s two options and I’ve got two horses, if I can keep them separate then great, I’m sure at some stage they’re going to have to meet.
“I’m just keeping a very open mind at this stage.”
Mo’unga is a $6 chance for the George Main Stakes, while Zaaki remains the $4.50 favourite for the Cox Plate with Mo’unga a $15 chance.
