Gifted an uncontested lead and back on his favoured firm surface, Zaaki (GB) defended his title in Saturday’s $3,000,000 Group 1 Tab Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
With the favoured runners, Anamoe and I’m Thunderstruck, struggling to take any ground off Zaaki (GB) in the straight, it was left to the winner’s stablemate Mo'unga (Savabeel) and the outsider Hezashocka (Shocking) to mount a challenge.
Hezashocka was second across the line, but a protest by Nash Rawiller against Damien Oliver was upheld.
But there was no catching Zaaki (GB), rated to perfection by Jamie Kah and was a long-neck in front at the finish.
It was the fourth win at the elite level for Zaaki (GB), who won the race twelve months ago when named LKS Mackinnon Stakes.
The European import advances his record to 14 wins, five seconds, and nine thirds with earnings of $9,123,357.
That’s the way to ride him. I thought we’re not going to die wondering, roll along and just repeat last year. She (Kah) gave him an absolute peach,” Neasham said.
“All of his wins, he’s gone quick and that’s his greatest asset, his big cruising speed, I said put your foot down… she did exactly that and he’s just so tough.”
“It was so exciting and Mo’Unga was terrific as well. That was a proper horse race.
“To have started my career with a horse like this (and) as an eight-year-old he has beaten a horse like Anamoe in emphatic style.
“Last year it was relief because he’d had that temperature for the Cox Plate and I wondered whether I was doing the right thing running him. So when he won it was a feeling of relief, but this year I’ve been able to enjoy it, he was third in the market.
“It’s amazing. She (Kah) is terrific and I thought that this might be his day. He loves Flemington and I’m absolutely delighted.
“It’s very special, a lot of the owners are on the board of the VRC, including the chairman, so to do it on their home track is so special, I just love this horse, he’s been phenomenal.
“I just feel emotional. They’re such great supporters of mine, the owners, and this horse has been so wonderful to me.”
Bred by Lanwades Stud, the son of Leroidesanimaux was a 40,000gns purchase by Ahmad Alotaibi out of the Staffordstown draft at the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
He was a 150,000gns purchase for Blandford Bloodstock / Annabel Neasham Racing 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), Zaaki (GB) is the best of six winners from nine to race out of the Sadler's Wells mare Kesara, a half-sister to the dual Listed stakes-winner Persona Grata (Sir Percy).
