Zaaki eyes rare hat-trick feat in Group 1 Champions Stakes
Zaaki is eyeing a Champion Stakes three-peat.
A crack field of international and Australian weight-for-age stars stand between Zaaki and a once-in-a-120-year feat in the VRC Champions Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki has an opportunity to join Wakeful (1901-03) as the only horse to win the 2000m Group 1 three times in-a-row.
Tranquil Star won three Champions (Mackinnon) Stakes in 1942 and 1944-45.
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Zaaki is rated a $7 chance with TAB behind English raider West Wind Blows, New Zealand star Prowess and triple Group 1-winner Duais, a luckless fourth in the Cox Plate last start.
Atishu, who roared home last Saturday to just miss out on winning the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington, is the only other starter in single figures at $8.
Age has certainly not wearied Zaaki, with the nine-year-old Flemington specialist primed for the main event on Saturday, one of three $3m Group 1 races on the card.
Zaaki placed third in the Group 1 Winx Stakes behind Fangirl first-up and then was collared on the line by Think It Over in the 7 Stakes in September.
His missed the King Charles III Stakes last month with a slightly elevated blood cell count but recovered quickly.
Zaaki crossed from a wide barrier and raced behind a hot speed in the Cox Plate last start, sixth of 12 beaten 1½ lengths behind Romantic Warrior.
The four-time Group 1 winner led the Cox Plate field into the straight and only tired inside the last 100m.
"I'm very happy with him and he's had a reasonably smooth lead-up," Neasham said.
"He did miss the King Charles but we were happy with him, he was six weeks between runs in the Cox Plate, he drew wide and had to do a bit of work that day.
"He was still only beaten a length and a half and I think he's going as well as ever and I see no reason why he can't go back-to-back-to-back in the Champions Stakes."
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Zaaki placed third, third and fourth in three starts before the Champions Stakes last year.
His form 12 months on reads third, second and sixth with eerily similar, if not, better margins.
"I thought leading into the Cox Plate I felt I had him going a little bit better than 12 month ago," Neasham said.
"He's a pretty easy horse to read in that he trains well, if he doesn't you know there's a problem but he's training well, he's bright and happy.
"Physically he looks amazing, that's probably what has kept him racing for quite a long time, but I'm confident he'll run well, particular as we know how good his record at the track is."
Zaaki has won three of four starts at Flemington, the Champions Stakes (twice) and an All-Star Mile, and been runner-up in a Group 2 when giving away six kilograms to the winner.
The affinity to Flemington has tempered somewhat the disappointment of barrier 10.
Star jockey Jamie Kah, a nine-time Group 1-winner including five at Flemington, rated Zaaki beautifully last year to win the Champions Stakes with a perfectly timed frontrunning ride from barrier one.
Despite a wide draw, a clean getaway should afford Zaaki the opportunity to cross the field and lead should Neasham and Kah choose to do so.
Favourite West Wind Blows, drawn perfectly in barrier two, is the only other genuine speed influence in the race with Prowess likely to settle behind the leaders.
"He's drawn a little bit awkwardly but the big track should really suit," Neasham said.
"We know he loves the track and that can be a big thing, a lot of horses are real track specialists."
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Flemington Race 8
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TAB Champions Stakes (2000m)
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| 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 19 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | |||
| 71 | 51 | 81 | 67 | 61 | 50 | 1000 | 61 | 73 | 61 | 67 | 61 | |||
| 51 | 46 | 71 | 51 | 51 | 20 | 1000 | 51 | 53 | 41 | 51 | 51 | |||
| 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 22 | 50 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.75 | 2.8 | |||
| 81 | 67 | 101 | 81 | 71 | 8 | 1000 | 67 | 93 | 71 | 81 | 71 | |||
| 81 | 81 | 126 | 101 | 81 | 13 | 1000 | 81 | 111 | 81 | 81 | 81 | |||
| 19 | 26 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 10 | 55 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | |||
| 26 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 19.5 | 1000 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 26 | |||
| 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 7 | 7 | 7.2 | 11 | 7 | 7.6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |||
| 8.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 | 2.06 | 4.8 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 | |||
| 5.5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 6 | 5.5 | 6 | |||
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Market percentage
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119 | 120 | 113 | 117 | 117 | 161 | 61 | 118 | 116 | 114 | 117 | 117 | ||
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Quick Bet
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Form Guide
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