A photo of the Brendan McCarthy-trained Zedi Knight racing against unbeaten champion Black Caviar has pride of place in the trainer’s lounge room.
The photo was taken half-way up the straight during the 2012 Group Two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley, a race where Zedi Knight led initially before finishing 4-1/4-lengths behind the wonder mare in second.
Zedi Knight winning the The Cafe' Terroni Chistmas Stakes at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
“It was very memorable actually,” McCarthy says of Zedi Knight’s second to Black Caviar.
“And I think it was probably one of the horse’s best runs of his career as well.
“We’ve got a big (photo) in the lounge room at home so we can see it every day.”
Nine-year-old Zedi Knight will be back at Moonee Valley on Friday night for another shot at the Australia Stakes (1200m).
He ran in the race again last year, and failed to beat a runner home, but McCarthy believes he is in a better position to make his presence felt this time.
Zedi Knight has finished fourth in the Doveton Stakes and seventh in the Christmas Stakes in his two starts this campaign.
“I’ve been very happy with the horse and his progress. He’s got those first couple of runs out of the way now and he is right on his game,” he said.
“I think he’ll give it a good little shake tomorrow night.”
Zedi Knight was a late nomination after entries were extended on Monday.
McCarthy said the main aim this campaign for Zedi Knight was next month’s Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington, a race he won in 2011.
Zedi Knight was at $17 on Thursday with the Peter Moody-trained Group One winner Moment Of Change a dominant favourite at $1.65.
Christmas Stakes runner-up Richie’s Vibe is second favourite at $5 while last year’s winner Sea Lord is at $8.
McCarthy admits Moment Of Change is the class horse of the field.
“The rest of them are around about the mark of Zedi,” he said.
The trainer hopes race fitness can prove telling, saying when Zedi Knight gets to his top he can be hard to run down.
