Kathy O’Hara’s affinity with Zaratone is matched only by the sprinter’s liking for 1100-metre races at Rosehill.

And the winning formula will be present on all fronts this weekend in a race which holds significance for the pairing – the Listed Starlight Stakes.

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“His record is really good at Rosehill, especially over the trip,” O’Hara said.

“It’s his pet distance and his pet track and he ran really well there last start.”

The 2011 renewal of the Starlight Stakes was the scene of Zaratone’s maiden stakes success.

It was also the first time he was ridden by O’Hara who has since partnered the gelding another 14 times for two more wins, including a Group Three triumph and a further five placings, two of those in stakes grade.

Since then Zaratone has changed stables from Nick Olive to Bjorn Baker.

But O’Hara has remained a constant.

“I love the horse. He is one of my favourites,” O’Hara said.

“He is such an honest horse and we’ve had lots of luck together and won a couple of stakes races.”

Zaratone comes into Saturday’s race off a third to Heart Testa over the track and distance two weeks ago.

He meets that horse 2kg better and O’Hara expects him to be near his peak after two runs from a spell.

“He will be spot on for Saturday,” she said.

O’Hara has rides in both black-type races on Saturday with Alma’s Fury her mount in the Listed Festival Stakes.