Australia: Zou Tiger's busy month concludes in Carrington Stakes

This has been a busy month for the Australian gelding Zou Tiger, who starts in the $131,600 Carrington Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Friday evening.

In his first start since May, Zou Tiger finished fifth of seven in the Canterbury Sprint at Canterbury Park on Jan. 1. He was found to have bled from a nostril.

To start in a lucrative handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Jan. 17, Zou Tiger passed a vet examination after a workout two days before the race. Zou Tiger finished second by a nose.

The Carrington Stakes at seven furlongs is the third start of the month for Zou Tiger, who has been third in two Group 1 races at seven furlongs and a mile in the last 16 months.

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Zou Tiger, a winner of one race in 17 starts, is part of a competitive running of the Carrington Stakes, which drew a solid field of 13.

Trained by John O’Shea, Zou Tiger is capable of racing near the front, but is more likely to have a stalking position. He will be ridden by apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd and will carry 120 pounds under the handicap conditions of the Carrington Stakes.

Tamerlane, a winner of two of his last three starts, is the 131-pound topweight and rated as a leading contender along with Felix Majestic, who will carry 119.

Tamerlane won the $204,300 Buffering Stakes at 6 3/4 furlongs at Doomben Racecourse on Dec. 30 in his latest start, closing from fifth in a field of 15 to win by slightly more than three-quarters of a length.

Tamerlane has the outside post in the Carrington, but is quick enough to move forward and save ground early under jockey Chad Schofield.

Felix Majestic drew the inside post and also has enough speed to scoot clear early and avoid being caught behind runners in the opening furlongs. Felix Majestic faces a class test in the Carrington after winning a seven-furlong handicap at Randwick on Dec. 16 and finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths in a tougher seven-furlong handicap in his last start on Jan. 6.

Should those two contribute to a speed duel, Zou Tiger could be well positioned in early stretch.

The Carrington is part of a 10-race program at Randwick that begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern or 5:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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