Zaaki (GB) Back To Where It All Began

Mark Smith - Saturday May 7

Twelve months after announcing himself to Australia with a facile win in the Group II Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast, Zaaki (GB) returned to the scene on Saturday to defend his title as arguably the best horse in the land.

Ridden by James McDonald for Annabel Neasham, Zaaki (GB) controlled the race from the front.

The 7yo son of  Leroidesanimaux kept up a relentless gallop in the straight to defeat the mudlark Polly Grey (Azamour) by three-quarter of a length with Kukeracha (Night Of Thunder) a half-length back in third.

Advertisement

After winning the Hollindale last year, Zaaki (GB) trotted up by seven lengths in the Doomben Cup, and he will take the same route this year.

"This is the freshest he's been. He had a bit of a bronc with James (McDonald) when he got down on the track, and then my only worry is if I've left him too fresh and is he going to travel too strongly," Neasham said.

What a horse (image Racing Photos)

"James knows him so well, and he took luck out of the equation. For a moment there, I thought the second two horses were coming thick and fast, and credit to them, they kept him very honest all the way to the line - but he was too good.

"He is just such a star this horse. This was his first win 12 months ago, and he's won so much for us. He's given us so much pleasure, and he doesn't seem to be getting any (older), so hopefully, we'll be back again next year.

"It's pretty testing ground out there, and it's quite pluggy. Again, it's another unknown with him how he'd go on that ground. I suppose we had a little bit of confidence after the Queen Elizabeth that he would handle it.

"Doomben Cup for sure in two weeks. The forecast is absolutely treacherous, but we'll press forward to there, and he'll be cherry ripe. That might've just hopefully knocked that little bit of freshness out of him."

Zaaki (GB) advances his record to 12 wins, five seconds, and six third from 34 starts with earnings of $7,233,357.

Like Friday’s Wagga Cup winner Aleas (GB), Zaaki (GB) was bred by Landwades Stud’s Kirsten Rausing.

Winner of the Group III York Strensall Stakes at York, Group III Diomed Stakes at Epsom and the Listed Paradise Stakes at Ascot when trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Zaaki (GB) was a 40,000gns purchase by Ahmad Alotaibi out of the Staffordstown draft at the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Zaaki (GB) was bought by Blandford Bloodstock / Annabel Neasham Racing for 150,000gns out of the Freemason Lodge Stables draft at the 2020 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.

A half-brother to stakes-placed Kirks Ryker (Selkirk), he is the best of six winners from eight to race out of the Sadler's Wells mare Kesara, a half-sister to the dual Listed stakes-winner Persona Grata (Sir Percy).

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab A.D. Hollindale Stakes Gr2 1800m

Gold Coast Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:54.77
1
Zaaki
- 7g Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) x Kesara (GB) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J B Mc Donald 59
2
0.8
Polly Grey
- 7m Azamour (IRE) x Allanah (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: O P Bosson 57
3
1.3
Kukeracha
- 4g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Portrait Of A Lady (USA) (A.P. Indy (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: James Orman 59
4
3.8
Huetor
- 5g Archipenko (USA) x Briviesca (GB) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 59
5
4.3
Coventina Bay
- 6m Shamexpress (NZ) x Coventina (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: S T Collett 57
6
7.8
Zayydani
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: A Mallyon 57
7
8.3
Hungry Heart
- 4m Frankel (GB) x Harlech (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: W Pike 57
8
12.8
Ayrton
- 4g Iffraaj (GB) x Odessa (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: J Bowman 59
9
15.8
Dashing Willoughby
- 6g Nathaniel (IRE) x Miss Dashwood (GB) (Dylan Thomas (IRE))
Tnr: Sam Kavanagh Rdr: N Callow 59
10
16.0
Kolding
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Magic Star (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L R Dittman 59
11
16.2
Hail Manhattan
- 5g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Beggin (AUS) (Benicio (AUS))
Tnr: P & W Hulbert Rdr: B N Stewart 59
More Reading...
What a Class Act - Zaaki Claims the All-Star Mile
The Anabel Neasham-trained Zaaki (GB) left few in doubt that he was the best horse in Saturday’s $5million Seppelt Wines All-Star Mile at Flemington.
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Zaaki Goes Back To Back in Tramway
Annabel Neasham admitted that right up until they jumped in Saturday's $250,000 Group II GPI Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, she was unsure whether she made the right decision in running Zaaki (GB).
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Zaaki Retired
Just days after the news of Think It Over’s retirement comes the announcement of another great warrior calling it a day with Zaaki (GB) set to begin a new chapter of his life after finding fame and fortune in Australia with Annabel Neasham.
A Third Hollindale Stakes for Ten Million Dollar Earner Zaaki
Annabel Neasham's magnificent Zaaki (GB) returned triumphantly to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday to earn his third consecutive win in the $500,000 Group II Tab A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m).
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.