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It’s easy to get carried away with winter form but jockey Brenton Avdulla is adamant Zoukerino is a horse that will make a name for himself.
The John O'Shea-trained colt was a runaway winner at his only start back on July 20 and such was the impressive nature of the victory he steps straight into stakes company in Saturday's Listed $160,000 Smithfield RSL Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill.
"I think in six months time you are going to see a really good quality colt,'' Brenton Avdulla said.
"He is built like a sprinter so I think he will be a really good short course horse in six to 12 months.
"What he's doing at the moment is just on ability, you're not seeing the furnished product yet, but he does give the feel that he will make the grade.
"He's a high quality horse, it just depends if it comes too soon for him on Saturday."
Like Avdulla, O'Shea said earlier this week he also feels Zoukerino will "make the grade" and while he was thrust into a Listed race a shade faster than planned he earned the right with his first-up win.
A $500,000 yearling purchase, Zoukerino clocked the fastest time of the three 1100m races held on the Kensington track on the day, by two lengths, as he cruised to a 3-1/4 length win on a heavy 10.
Avdulla said he was impressed by the way the colt switched off when he found a spot with cover after jumping well from the outside gate and how he dashed when asked to burst through a gap and would like to replicate that from a kinder draw at Rosehill.
Zoukerino was $6 with TAB on Friday, and $26 in the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose market.
"I still rode a race on him (on debut). He drew wide but I was able to drop in with a bit of cover,'' he said.
"I trialled him the other day and he led up the trial but I have no doubt he is better with something in front of him so I think that will be the plan on Saturday.
"He's a really nice colt, obviously paid a bit of money for him so he's got the looks and the pedigree.
"And he's got the physique. He's a big, strong, colt and is blessed with natural speed.
"He's still very raw, he was very raw on debut and still put a margin on them."
Elusive Jewel chases back-to-back Rosehill wins in the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Handicap (1800m) and Avdulla said the five-year-old should be very competitive again.
The John Thompson-trained mare stays on 58.5kg after her narrow victory over Narrated two weeks ago.
"She's a tough mare who is racing very consistently,'' he said.
"It's a similar race, albeit she takes on the boys, she's drawn low and should get the run of the race. She should be in it for a long way."
Luck and how youngster Stonecoat jumps will be crucial to his chances in the Dooleys Handicap (1300m) after the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott prepared colt drew the outside alley.
Avdulla was on board when he chased home True Crime on a heavy 10 three weeks ago and said while the horse shows promise, particularly for when the distances increase, he must do everything right.
"His biggest issue is going to be the draw because he wasn't brilliantly quick the other day,'' he said.
"He sat off the leader the other day over 1200m and was off the bridle throughout.
"He's going to have to do a bit of work to get on speed, in a competitive race he will need to improve to be right in the finish."
