Mark Zahra will return to race riding at Flemington this Saturday, and the champion jockey sharpened up midweek aboard the horse who could headline his 2026 campaign.
Melbourne’s leading rider reunited with exciting colt Tentyris in an 800-metre jumpout at Mornington on Wednesday.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained three-year-old finished fourth, around 2½ lengths behind stablemate Tropicus, but the result was secondary to the key objective of the session.
“It was more important this morning about his barrier (manners) – obviously his last run he got scratched out of Champions Sprint when he reared up and went into the stall next door – but his barrier manners were perfect,” Zahra told SENTrack.
“(With) no blinkers on, he was there just having a nice time and trialled really good, actually.
“To the line he was smoking up right behind him, so I couldn’t have been happier with him.”
Tentyris has not been seen in public since the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, when he was scratched late at the barriers and denied a start.
A week earlier, the son of Street Boss delivered a stunning performance to claim the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
His first Group 1 target in 2026 is expected to be the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 14.
The jumpout also whetted Zahra’s appetite for the weeks ahead, with the jockey not having ridden since the Zipping Classic meeting at Sandown on November 29.
Despite his time away, the 43-year-old still leads the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership with 36 wins, holding an 11-win buffer over Craig Williamson.
Zahra has four rides at Flemington, headed by Aviatress in the $200,000 Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m), where the David and Chantelle Jolly-trained mare will carry 58kg.
His other rides include Jenni Gone Bonkers in the opener for Ciaron Maher, plus stablemate Military Tycoon and the Nick Ryan-trained Suntora in races three and four.
Markets are open with leading Australian betting sites for the Standish Handicap, giving punters plenty of options ahead of Saturday’s Flemington feature.
Zahra confirmed he will remain in Victoria rather than chasing rides at the Gold Coast.
“I haven’t got much Gold Coast…I spoke to my management crew and there’s nothing really I could pick up,” he said.
“I used to go to the Gold Coast and just pick up a few rides just so I can go up there and enjoy myself around the Gold Coast for a weekend, but after five weeks up that area I’ve probably seen enough.
“So, I reckon I’ll stay in Melbourne and focus on getting the eye in and weight down and having a crack down here for the next couple of weeks.”
The post Tentyris trial gets Mark Zahra back in the groove first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
