Trainer Grahame Begg is experiencing a degree of relief as Zakouma has managed to gain entry into a Caulfield Cup lead-up race.
The six-year-old gelding was initially the second emergency for Saturday’s Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield, but two scratchings have now opened up a starting position for him.
Having already secured a ballot exemption for the prestigious Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3, Begg has carefully structured Zakouma’s campaign to ensure the horse is at his absolute peak.
Zakouma made his return from a spell in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield last month, finishing a promising sixth. Begg’s current plan involves only two further starts prior to the gelding contesting the Melbourne Cup.
A victory this Saturday would earn Zakouma a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17. If he is unsuccessful, the stayer is slated to run in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) on October 10.
It is noteworthy that last year’s Naturalism Stakes winner, Half Yours, also gained a start as an emergency and subsequently claimed both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
Had Zakouma missed out on a start in Saturday’s race, Begg’s backup strategy would have been to run him in the JRA Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on September 26.
“Whatever way it worked out, his next run was going to be at 2000 metres, then one run at 2400 metres and then it’s straight into the (Melbourne) Cup,” Begg said.
“If he won the Naturalism, he would go to the Caulfield Cup.
“It’s worth $6 million, so why not, but if he doesn’t win the Naturalism, he will go to the Herbert Power and then straight into the Melbourne Cup.”
Zakouma is allocated 51kg for the Caulfield Cup and is currently ranked 70th in the ballot order. Success on Saturday will see him gain a start, while in the Melbourne Cup, he carries 52kg and has a guaranteed spot thanks to his triumph in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington in May.
Begg and his team were very pleased with Zakouma’s first-up effort, where he surged from second-last position before the turn to secure sixth place, finishing just over four lengths behind the winner, Kingswood.
He added that Zakouma has shown considerable improvement since that initial run.
“He’s got great lung capacity. His recovery is unbelievable,” Begg stated.
“He has come on a lot since his first-up run. His coat is still not there, still a bit woolly, but it’s starting to shift and another run will bring that along.”
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