Jockey Mark Zahra is expressing his eagerness to be back aboard the stayer Middle Earth for the Melbourne Cup, having been absent from the horse’s campaign for nearly a full year.
Zahra played a significant role in Middle Earth’s initial preparation after its arrival at Ciaron Maher’s stable, piloting the gelding to a win in the Australian Cup Prelude during its first Australian start.
After partnering Middle Earth in the previous year’s Caulfield Cup, Zahra made the decision to switch his mount to Al Riffa for the Melbourne Cup, a choice that resulted in him forfeiting the ride on Middle Earth for approximately twelve months.
As it transpired, Middle Earth went on to finish third in last year’s Cup, while Al Riffa secured seventh place. Nevertheless, Zahra is more than content to be back in the saddle for Tuesday’s 3200-metre race at Flemington.
“I jumped off him to ride Al Riffa last year and I think the owners weren’t happy, so I got a year ban, but I’m back on now,” Zahra declared.
“He ran well when I rode him in the Turnbull in a hard race and he’s going along nicely.”
Zahra perceives a striking resemblance between Middle Earth’s current form and that of Gold Trip as it approached the Cup.
Gold Trip was the horse that gifted Zahra his first of two consecutive Cup victories in 2022.
Middle Earth, mirroring Gold Trip’s path, contested the Cox Plate prior to the Melbourne Cup and wore blinkers, a piece of equipment it will again utilise in Tuesday’s race.
Zahra was sidelined as a consequence of his Caulfield Cup fall when Middle Earth was competing in the Cox Plate, but he watched the race intently from his home.
“I was watching a few that day, hoping they didn’t win, but I was watching him and hoping he would run well,” Zahra recounted.
“He didn’t win, but I thought he ran well.
“It was a different level of race to what he ran in last year (JRA Cup), but what I wanted to see was him hitting the line.
“I think Ciaron ran the same path the year Gold Trip won, blinkers on in the Cox Plate and then up to the Melbourne Cup and Ciaron has set him specifically for this race after he won at Eagle Farm in the winter.
“I like the planning for the horse. He ran third in it last year and is in it with a great chance.”
Zahra is a rider of significant note in big races, and he collaborated with Maher to achieve victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) with The Next Episode at Flemington on Saturday.
However, he stated that achieving a Melbourne Cup win is on an entirely different level.
“I think once you have success in the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup and these big races, you long for that feeling,” Zahra expressed.
“Going to Flemington, you look around, the numbers, it gets me right up and about.
“It’s a race you want to win and once you’ve achieved it, you become confident and you really embrace these big days.”
Betting markets for the Melbourne Cup are expected to be highly competitive, so compare Australian betting sites for the best odds.
