The saying "winning form is the best form" comes to mind when analysing the feature race at Mudgee on Sunday.
Winners are thin on the ground when assessing the Lawson Park Hotel Black Nugget Cup (1400m) with eight of the 11 starters not returning to the winner's stall in their past five runs so a horse with four wins from his last six outings stands out as the horse to beat.
The Cecil Hodgson-trained A Magic Zariz certainly fits into the winner's category boasting seven wins from 17 career starts with an additional four placings amassing $124,957 for connections.
Hodgson is doing a great job with A Magic Zariz with the gelding's current preparation beginning on January 20.
A Magic Zariz will be having his 12th run this time in but there are no signs the now five-year-old is looking for a rest and is arguably racing in the best form of his career.
A Magic Zariz hasn't finished worse than second in three Mudgee runs including a win over the 1400m course in the XXXX Cup three runs back and he's chasing back to back victories after a strong win in the Narromine Cup over a mile last time out.
A Magic Zariz comes back in distance on Sunday but with three wins over the 1400m journey a strong argument can be presented that the trip is his pet distance and with 2kg apprentice Chelsea Ings maintaining the ride after handling rode A Magic Zariz at Narromine the winning association I'm expecting will continue.
A Magic Zariz is drawn to get plenty of favours in the run from barrier five settling behind what looks a quicker than average tempo expected to be set by Court Victory who likes to roll along in his races.
A Magic Zariz gets all the ticks and at $5 in early betting markets looks exceptional value for punters.
