Australia; Zaaki tries again in Doomben Cup

The multiple stakes winner Zaaki is on a familiar path through Australia’s leading races for older horses this month.

In May 2021, Zaaki won the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes and the Group 1 Doomben Cup at tracks in the Brisbane area. Last May, Zaaki won the Hollindale Stakes, but was third as the 1-4 favorite in the Doomben Cup.

So far this month, Zaaki has repeated his win in the Hollindale Stakes on May 6. He will be heavily favored to win the $660,800 Doomben Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Doomben Racecourse on Friday evening.

Zaaki, an 8-year-old British-bred gelding, was 4-5 as of early Thursday. The Hollindale Stakes at 1 1/8 miles was Zaaki’s 15th win 42 career starts and first win of 2023 in his second start of the year. Zaaki was a good second to the brilliant sprinter Giga Kick in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at seven furlongs on April 15 in his first start of the year.

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Zaaki has won 3 of 12 starts in his career at 1 1/4 miles, including his last start at the distance in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington Racecourse in November.

Trained by Annabel Neasam, Zaaki tends to run as a stalker.

The Doomben Cup is part of a nine-race program beginning at 9:43 p.m. Eastern or 6:43 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The Doomben Cup drew a field of 13, including Huetor, the upset winner of the 2022 running. Huetor was second in the Hollindale earlier this month, closing from eighth of 10 to finish slightly less than a half-length behind Zaaki.

A closer, Huetor is winless in seven starts since his win in the 2022 Doomben Cup.

The Doomben Cup will be a class test for the New Zealand-bred 3-year-old Kovalica, who has won 5 of 7 starts. Kovalica, from the powerful Chris Waller stable, won the Group 1 Queensland Guineas at a mile at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane on April 29.

The Doomben Cup distance should not be an issue for Kovalica, who won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles and a Group 3 stakes at 1 5/16 miles last December.

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