Having missed the major two-year-old races in Melbourne, Zerelle has collected a nice consolation prize with his maiden win at Sandown.
The Trent Busuttin And Natalie Young stable registered a long overdue metropolitan juvenile win when Zerelle was successful at Sandown on Wedenesday.
Zerelle’s victory in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Multi Handicap (1300m) was the Cranbourne-based training partners first on a city track in Melbourne since Larimer Street scored at The Valley on March 20 last year.
However, it was touch-and-go for a few strides inside the final 100m as Zerelle was in a battle with Three Kings, but under the urgings of Mark Zahra, Zerelle, the $3.40 equal favourite, prevailed narrowly from Three Kings ($4.20) with Gabstar ($21) in third place.
Zerelle was lining-up for his second start on Wednesday having finished third on debut at Sale over 1212m on March 16.
Young said Zerelle had shown the training partners promise on the training tracks and believe there are bigger and better things to come from the son of Snitzel.
“Early on we thought he might make the Blue Diamond but he had a growth spurt at the wrong time and we had to tip him out for 10 weeks,” Young said.
“I think we did the right thing and he’s come back bigger and better.
“He’s still very green, very raw. He got to the front a little soon and had a look around and maybe he will be better with a bit of headgear next start.
“He’s always shown us he’s very competitive at home. He pricked his ears, but his legs were going everywhere still.”
Young said the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on April 25 could be a suitable upcoming assignment for Zerelle.
“I think he’ll be a really nice three-year-old. We’ll see how he pulls up where we go next,” she said.
