What a Class Act - Zaaki Claims the All-Star Mile

Mark Smith - Saturday March 19

The Anabel Neasham-trained Zaaki (GB) left few in doubt that he was the best horse in Saturday’s $5million Seppelt Wines All-Star Mile at Flemington.

A career highlight for Jamie Kah (image Grant Courtney

Jamie Kah made her intentions clear from the start, when easing the European import across from an outside barrier to sit outside the pacesetting Callsign Mav.

Striking the front a long way from home, Zaaki (GB) was there to be beaten as a succession of challengers lined up behind him.

Advertisement

But the challenge never eventuated. The son of Leroidesanimaux turned back one challenge after another and was one and a half lengths clear of the runner-up I’m Thunderstruck.

The underrated Street of Avalon (Magnus) cash another cheque, finishing three-quarter of a length behind the runner-up.

Zaaki (GB) advances his record to eleven wins, four seconds and  six thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $6,183,357.

An emotional Neasham said she was a bundle of nerves

“I don’t know why I was worried at the top of the straight, I needn't be. He’s just unbelievable,” Neasham said.

“I get very nervous when he’s running, it just feels like relief but elation as well.

“A 5 million dollar race. It’s unbelievable. There’s a great ownership involved in him. 

“We’ll enjoy this for now, but certainly the Queen Elizabeth will be the target, and if we don’t get James (McDonald) at least we’ve found another pilot that gets on with him well. She’s a star.”

What a champ! (image Grant Courtney)

Kah said it was a special moment after missing the spring.

“It just means so much more after coming back and what we had to go through, I missed out on so many big opportunities through Spring,” Kah said.

“It was just so special, he’s just a machine. There’s a lot of pressure riding a horse like him and not that I’m one that really feels it but I’ve been runner up in a few of the big ones lately and it’s just so nice to get the job done on a horse like him.

“That was the plan I had, I never for one minute thought it’d be easy to get there but in the end it was relatively smooth enough. I thought we were going pretty well on the turn, when he’s ridden like this he’s just a different horse. It gave me goosebumps trotting back in, it was very special.

“It’s pretty simple when you ride a horse like him, you’ve just got to get him into his rhythm and he’s just an absolute machine when you let him do his thing and I felt that on the turn, but sometimes those horses don't sustain that and he’s just the opposite. He’s a superstar, he just gets stronger and stronger.

Team Zaaki (image Grant Courtney)

“She (Annabel Neasham) an absolute legend, she doesn’t put too many instructions or plans in your head. She’s backed me all the way through. We were booked for this horse a while out and she’s supported me through everything in the last year and it’s just amazing for her and her team. They just turn these horses around time and time again. She deserves it, the owners deserve it and I’m pretty happy I was the one that got to sit on him.”

Winner of the Group III York Strensall Stakes at York, Group III Diomed Stakes at Epsom and the Listed Paradise Stakes at Ascot when trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Zaaki (GB) was a 40,000gns purchase by Ahmad Alotaibi out of the Staffordstown draft at the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Zaaki (GB) was third behind Benbatl in the 2019 Group II Joel Stakes at Newmarket.

Zaaki (GB) was bought by Blandford Bloodstock / Annabel Neasham Racing for 150,000gns out of the Freemason Lodge Stables draft at the 2020 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.

A half-brother to stakes-placed Kirks Ryker (Selkirk), the Kirsten Rausing-bred Zaaki (GB) is the best of six winners from eight to race out of the Sadler's Wells mare Kesara, a half-sister to the dual Listed stakes-winner Persona Grata (Sir Percy).

Advertisment

Race Result - Seppelt Wines All-Star Mile 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.54
1
Zaaki
- 7g Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) x Kesara (GB) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Jamie Kah 59
2
1.5
I'm Thunderstruck
- 4g Shocking (AUS) x Primadonna Girl (NZ) (Edenwold (CAN))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jye McNeil 59
3
2.3
Streets Of Avalon
- 7g Magnus (AUS) x Kamuniak (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Zac Spain 59
4
3.5
Mr Brightside
- 4g Bullbars (AUS) x Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 59
5
3.7
Cascadian
- 7g New Approach (IRE) x Falls Of Lora (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 59
6
4.4
Inspirational Girl
- 6m Reliable Man (GB) x Be Inspired (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 57
7
4.5
Sierra Sue
- 5m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Centree (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: John Allen 57
8
5.3
Tofane
- 6m Ocean Park (NZ) x Baggy Green (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J Mott 57
9
5.5
Icebath
- 5m Sacred Falls (NZ) x Fabulist (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Fred W Kersley 57
10
5.6
Pinstriped
- 3g Street Boss (USA) x Snitzel Blitz (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: E Jusufovic Rdr: M J Dee 56
11
6.1
Callsign Mav
- 5g Atlante (AUS) x Raadisi (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Ben Allen 59
12
7.8
King Magnus
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Influential Miss (AUS) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Lachlan King 59
13
11.3
Captivant
- 3c Capitalist (AUS) x Speedboat (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Patrick Moloney 56
14
12.3
Lightsaber
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Dream Cirque (AUS) (Dream Ahead (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 56
15
13.8
Lunar Fox
- 4h Foxwedge (AUS) x Grant's Moon (USA) (Malibu Moon (USA))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: C Newitt 59
More Reading...
Zaaki (GB) Back To Where It All Began
Twelve months after announcing himself to Australia with a facile win in the Group II Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast, Zaaki (GB) returned to the scene on Saturday to defend his title as arguably the best horse in the land.
Kiwi Bred Keeps Winners Coming for Payne Stable
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Bold Soul has been a consistent performer right through the winter months and notched another win at Flemington when prevailing in the VRC Membership Renewals Open (2530m) on Saturday.
Winning Hat-Trick for Progressive Pierro
Richard and Will Freedman probably have more talented horses in the stable than Pierro gelding Cold Brew, but few have the consistency of this four year-old who landed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.
A Third Hollindale Stakes for Ten Million Dollar Earner Zaaki
Annabel Neasham's magnificent Zaaki (GB) returned triumphantly to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday to earn his third consecutive win in the $500,000 Group II Tab A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m).
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.
Unique Filly a History Maker for Godolphin and Waller
The re-distribution of the Godolphin owned Australian racehorses has been a hot topic in recent weeks as they departed the care of James Cummings to join a wide spread of different trainers and one of those was Chris Waller, whose first runner for the blue army was a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
Kosciuszko calling Rosehill winner Elson Boy
Dubbo-trained Elson Boy was back in the winner’s circle after a 412-day absence when leading throughout to land the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill in the hands of apprentice William Stanley.
Zaaki Retired
Just days after the news of Think It Over’s retirement comes the announcement of another great warrior calling it a day with Zaaki (GB) set to begin a new chapter of his life after finding fame and fortune in Australia with Annabel Neasham.
Sliding Doors Moment Delivers Feel Good Winner at Rosehill
Two fillies were born at Yulong in 2021 sired by Alabama Express from imported North American daughters of Street Cry, one of them is triple Group I winner Treasurethe Moment and the other is the feel good winner of the day at Rosehill on Saturday.
Dual Group Winner Too Darn Good At Flemington
A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.