Zonza may be playing second fiddle to Caulfield Cup runner Silent Achiever in the Roger James stable but she showed she has real talent by winning the Group Three Snowhite Maintenance Classic at Caulfield on Wednesday.
The five-year-old raced on the speed with Two Sugars and the pair battled it out for most of the race before Zonza ($3.60 fav) stretched clear to score.
Zonza, Damien Oliver - Photo by Sharon Chapman
She won by 1-1/4 lengths from the fast-finishing Bonario with Two Sugars weakening for third another half length away.
James was delighted with the tactics employed by Damien Oliver and said his ride was an advertisement for putting the best jockeys on board.
“I love a rider who can make a decision, whether it’s right or wrong, you have to put your neck on the line and he was proved right,” James said.
James said the Group Two Matriarch Stakes over 2000m at Flemington on November 9 was now an option for Zonza.
“This carnival presents an array of options and after today’s performance, we’ll take in what Damien had to say and come up with the best results,” James said.
“These ones in Australia, you just can’t underestimate how valuable they are – black type company in Australia for a potential broodmare.”
Oliver said it was a tough performance from Zonza who had to chase the leader down in the straight.
“But she knuckled down and stayed on well,” he said.
