3 minute read
There has been no stopping Zakeriz this campaign and he could well advance his record in the $34,000 Ted Ryder Cup (1600m) at Wagga on Friday.
Zakeriz ($2.80 equal favourite on TAB) has cut a swathe through his opponents capturing the Cootamundra and Queanbeyan Cups before again dominating at Wagga in the Ryder Cup Prelude.
The gelding only needs to maintain his present performance record to claim another feature race for trainer and owner Chris Hardy and long-time friend Richard Thackeray.
Reigning Ted Ryder Cup winner Upper House ($8.50) is back to defend his title, but has found Zakeriz an uncontrollable force when he has been able to lead and dominate.
Despite this, Upper House's trainer Norm Gardner feels the tables could turn.
"He (Zakeriz) keeps winning, but I think my bloke can make a race of it," Gardner said.
Zakeriz accounted for Nieces And Nephews (second), Propose To Me (third) and Upper House (fourth) in a four-horse field at Wagga on December 16.
The seven-year-old appeared to be under pressure at stages, but kept finding and was drawing away from his rivals over the concluding stages.
The major difference this time is Zakeriz rises in the weights by 2.5kg to 61kg.
Upper House only drops in weight by half a kilogram and Propose To Me ($2.80 eq fav) and Nieces And Nephews ($5.50) remain on 55kg.
Jockey Nyssa Burrells has been a major part of the success and will again ride Zakeriz from barrier three. It will be a case of straight to the front again and see if his rivals can catch him with the extra weight, but on facts and figures it's hard to see.
Just Business ($12) ran on well to finish sixth first-up from a break at Canberra and will be much fitter and better suited to the mile at Wagga. Broo Boss ($51) won a restricted level race at Wagga last start and rises in class on Friday.
It has been a winning period this month for the family of Zakeriz with his half-sister Bon's Kingdom winning her first race at Corowa last week. Zakeriz has only been lightly raced for his age with 16 starts for six wins with the majority this campaign.
There will be eight races at Wagga with a heat of the Wagga stayers' series opening the racing on Christmas Eve at 1pm.
