Zambardo did not make it to the race that was pencilled in as his Group 1 target this preparation, but co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr remains optimistic he can land a big payday this campaign.
Last year’s Champions Stakes runner-up will get the chance to push his claims for a start in next month’s rich Q22 in this Saturday’s $200,000 Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup at Rosehill.
Kent and his training partner Mick Price brought him into work with a view to contesting the Group 1 Doomben Cup, which was won by Birdman last Saturday, but reset sights after two unplaced runs to start the campaign.
“We came into this prep and we mooted the Doomben Cup, but we just thought the better of that,” Kent said.
“All his good form is on bigger tracks. The Doomben Cup, it was going to be a big ask, especially with (Pride Of) Jenni in there, third-up with a two-week gap from the mile.
“We’ve got three weeks now to 2000, we stay at home at Rosehill and then if he wins that, the Q22 on the big track (will be) beautiful with no Jenni.”
Zambardo heads into the Lord Mayor’s Cup off a sixth placing in the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at Gosford on May 9, which followed a four-length ninth placing over 1400m at Randwick on April 18.
They are the only unplaced runs of a 10-start career that began with a pair of third placings for original trainer Emma Watt in New Zealand before joining Price and Kent’s Cranbourne stable.
He raced through the grades with four-straight wins last preparation, which prompted the trainers to test Zambardo in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m), in which the four-year-old beat home all bar dual Cox Plate winner Via Sistina.
Zambardo was one of 34 entries for the Lord Mayor’s Cup with Royal Supremacy, Maison Louis, Osipenko, Tavi Time and Sea King among his potential rivals.
