Having already qualified to run in the rich Magic Millions 3yo Guineas in a fortnight, Will Freedman see’s Zoubaby’s outing at Eagle Farm on Saturday as a chance to see if a further tweaking of tactics will allow the filly to stretch out even further.
The Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) presents a final fling towards the $3 million feature over 1400m at Gold Coast and while there is comfort with there being no panic about qualification, the last start Midway Handicap (benchmark 72, 1200m) winner at Randwick on December 14 will need to be ridden even quieter than that start in readiness to see out the slightly longer distances.
“She’s trending in the right direction, but the 1300-metres will the real test there,” Freedman said.
“We’ll ride her a little more conservatively so that she can see it out.
“We’re hoping that the Guineas may have dodged the higher level three-year-olds from spring and autumn.
“She may be a level behind the top ones, but it is falling nicely with her.”
Will commented that while horses that jump well from the gates are often a gift, in this case the challenge is to rein the filly back to then take up a conservative pace and position.
The Freedmans took out the Vo Rogue Plate with Fashion Legend in 2022 and Will says that they are on a similar path with this daughter of hot sire Zoustar who was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale in 2023 for $300,000.
“I think people can be a little light on these spring three-year-olds running 1400-metres. I prefer to have that extra run under the belt.”
Zoubaby had two springtime starts in Melbourne which delivered a second placing in the Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and a fifth placing behind Amelita in the Group 3 Red Roses (1200m) at Flemington.
“I think the travel definitely made her mature mentally,” he added.
“I don’t think she loved going the opposite way at Moonee Valley and she got exposed a bit up the Flemington straight.
“In Queensland this time she’s going to handle the travel and Brian Smith who looks after her up there said she’s as good as gold.”
Zoubaby is rated a $7.50 chance across bookmakers markets for the Vo Rogue Plate with last start winner, the Bjorn Baker-trained Raikkonen, a firming favourite at $4.
Zoubaby is a $26 chance with betting sites for the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas on January 11.
