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With a name that captures your attention, Zac Attack ($4 favourite on TAB) will be looking to do exactly that and go one better than her first-up display when she races at Grafton on Friday.
The lightly raced mare was a closing second in The Jackal at Grafton on April 12 and will again be ridden by 2kg-claiming apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd from barrier 13.
Murwillumbah trainer Edward O'Rourke believes Zac Attack is ready to break through at her second start for him in the Brushgrove Hotel Brushgrove Cup (1181m).
Zac Attack charged to the finish post with Lloyd in charge at her first start since June after a two-run campaign in Melbourne last winter.
"She has come on a fair bit fitness-wise from her first-up run and there was a bit of natural improvement in her so I expect her to run well," he said.
"She likes to be kept fresh with two to three weeks between starts and I couldn't be happier with the way she has been working."
Drawing out wide isn't ideal for Zac Attack and O'Rourke said luck and positive rider judgment will come into play.
"She will probably have to go back from the start and we will have to work out a plan where she can hopefully slot in," he suggested.
"She likes chasing horses so there will be a bit of timing and race placement come into it."
Zac Attack has won four of her 12 starts for her owners and has previously also been trained at the Gold Coast with O'Rourke being her third trainer. She is one of 14 horses the 36-year-old has in training and one of three from his stable which will race at Grafton.
O'Rourke has had two winners at the Sunshine Coast in recent weeks and is looking to Zac Attack and resuming gallopers, Jay Curve ($10) and Zavy's Hope ($6), to keep the stable flag flying.
"The Grafton track suits our horses and you have a fair chance to win even if your horse gets back or is in front," he said. "If the horse is good enough it will win because the track plays fair."
Zac Attack will oppose some of the same horses she beat home last start including September Girl (fourth) which has won three of her past four starts for Grafton trainer Shane Everson. So Shy ran fifth in the same race and is another of the main chances along with Dr Demon ($5.50) and See It Through ($5).
Rising 11-year-old Kievann ($9.50) will also have his admirers after winning two of his past three starts and finishing third last time out at the Sunshine Coast. Kievann also won at Grafton in late March and has had a remarkable career with 15 victories from 83 starts.
The galloper is prepared at Eagle Farm by Lauren Abbott and will again be ridden by 2kg apprentice Casey Waddell.
O'Rourke isn't expecting first-up success, but rather solid showings from Zavy's Hope and Jay Curve. Zavy's Hope (Tom Martin Electrical Benchmark 66, 1610m) returns after not having raced since October and has had the benefit of two recent trials.
It's a similar story with Jay Curve (Alan Bowling – Painter Class 1, 1181m) which won her latest start at Grafton in February of last year and has had two trials in preparation for Friday.
"Zavy's Hope won first-up last campaign and is a nice mare fresh, but I'm not sure how far forward condition-wise she is to win," he said. "She is definitely working well and going the right way to have a good campaign.
"Jay Curve has had a trial and a jump out, but I think the others may be a bit sharp for her over the distance."
Meanwhile, Selling Sunset ($3.50 fav) and King Kapa ($3.90) are two of the favourites for one of the highlight races – the Improved Member Benefits 2yo (1106m). King Kapa is a youngster by former Golden Slipper winner Capitalist who has been close-up in two trials at the Gold Coast and Doomben.
Selling Sunset ran second at the Sunshine Coast on debut after finishing in the same position in two trials. There are eight first starters which add to the interest of the juvenile contest.
There will be nine races on a Good 4 rated surface on Friday with the rail out 3m for the entire circuit.