Annabel Neasham said the TAB paying out on bets already placed on Zaaki for the Cox Plate was not the kind of news she wanted to hear before the Underwood Stakes.
TAB on Friday announced that all pre-nominations, all-in markets and multi legs involving Zaaki to win the Cox Plate at The Valley on October 23 had been settled.
But before that, Zaaki takes on four rivals in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Sandown on Saturday for which the TAB has him the $1.28 favourite.
Neasham is frustrated that she cannot be in Melbourne for Saturday’s race, but two of her staff have just completed 14 days quarantine and took Zaaki to Altona beach on Friday morning.
“They’re happy with the horse having not seen him for a couple of weeks,” Neasham told RSN.
“We try and get down to the beach as much as we can. He loves the beach and more so for the boys, they’d been cooped up for 14 days in quarantine and they were quite happy to get down there.”
Neasham admits the small field of five is a little concerning but will leave tactics to Craig Williams who had his first sit on the galloper at Sandown on Tuesday morning.
“Those small fields they can all end up staring at each other, so I’ll leave it up to Craig,” Neasham said.
“There doesn’t look to be any natural leader, but he’s been ridden allowed to be rolling along before.
“You can’t get too technical in a five-horse field, so Craig will just have to ride him on feel a little bit.
“I know he’s extremely short in the market, but it’s a good field and it will be an exciting race.”
While expected to win, Neasham just wants to see Zaaki perform well.
She said the Cox Plate was her target race this spring and Saturday’s race will be followed by the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 9.
“If I can win a couple of Group 1’s along the way, then that’s an absolute bonus,” Neasham said.
“There is that bit of pressure I suppose. He is that hype horse and he does have to go and prove himself now that he can do it against the better opposition.
“I’m sure there’ll be a few nerves tomorrow, but I just want him to run well, hit the line well and pull up well so that we’re on track.”