What may have originally looked like the harder of two options has turned into a relatively routine assignment for Zin Zan Eddie, winner of the Carrington Stakes.
Trainer Matthew Smith entered the six-year-old for Saturday’s 1400m Listed race and a benchmark event.
Zin Zan Eddie
After heavy rain in Sydney during the past two days, the Carrington field was reduced from seven to five and Smith opted to give Zin Zan Eddie his chance.
Punters thought his main opposition would come from three-year-old Voilier, a late entry.
They were spot-on with Voilier ($4.20) leading the way for much of the race until the favourite Zin Zan Eddie ($3.20) loomed up in the straight and kicked away to win by 2-1/4 lengths.
Smith was not at Randwick but Zin Zan Eddie’s jockey Jason Collett said the race had worked out as planned.
“We ticked all the boxes and he likes the wet track,” Collett said.
“I wasn’t really worried at any stage because I had him in the right spot.
“I knew Voilier would go forward.
“Zin Zan Eddie relaxed and got going at the right time.”
Voilier’s jockey Kathy O’Hara said the gelding would take improvement from the race in which he had to carry the same weight (54kg) as the winner.
Trainer Gary Nickson said he was uncertain where the four-time stakes placegetter would head next.
His original plan was to run him over 1200m in the Eskimo Prince but he said he would now reassess his program.
For Collett, there was cause for a double celebration with his father Richard training Untamed Diamond to win a support race on the Wellington Cup program with Jason’s sister Alysha aboard.
