With a racing gait more suited to a rower than a racehorse, it is little wonder Zin Zan Eddie is partial to wet tracks.
The Matthew Smith-trained five-year-old is poised to get his favoured conditions when he resumes in the Phillip Hughes Tribute at Rosehill on Saturday, a fact not lost on early-bird punters who have backed him from $26 to $18.
Zin Zan Eddie boasts a heavy-track victory over Group One winner Diamond Drille but his career has been restricted to 11 starts due to troublesome legs.
“He’s got a real paddling kind of action,” Smith said.
“Because he’s got that extravagant action they tend to put pressure on different parts of their legs and they get a bit sore.
“He’s at his best on slow to heavy tracks so the reality is unless he gets those conditions he won’t be as good as he can be.”
Smith was buoyed to learn Rosehill was rated heavy on Thursday with more storms and showers predicted.
A rain-affected track would also boost the chances of stablemate Queenian in the same race.
The six-year-old has found consistency since he was transferred to Smith earlier this year and gelded.
He hasn’t raced since a fifth in Canterbury midweek company in October but has returned to the stables mentally refreshed, according to his trainer.
“He had a little freshen up to keep his mind happy more than anything else,” Smith said.
“We’re really happy with the way he’s been working.
“He’s a wet-track horse as well.”
At $26, Queenian is one of the outsiders in a market which has Godolphin’s Mohave a $2.60 favourite.
Article from justhorseracing.com.au