Short journey to Cup no issue for Zardozi
Image: Steve Hart
Godolphin mare Zardozi should be on fresh legs for her Sydney Cup assignment.
An unconventional preparation hasn’t dampened Godolphin’s enthusiasm over the Sydney Cup chances of Zardozi with the global powerhouse believing she has been racing like a genuine stayer.
While many of her rivals have prepared for Saturday’s two-mile test with a grounding run over a longer journey, Zardozi is coming off an Australian Cup placing over 2000m.
Darren Beadman, assistant trainer to James Cummings, said Zardozi had already proven herself at the Sydney Cup distance with a close fourth in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) and her efforts this campaign were indicative of a horse looking for a trip.
“She’s had the benefit of a run over the two miles in the Melbourne Cup and it was an outstanding performance to run fourth,” Beadman said.
“She probably hasn’t had the traditional lead-up races to run in the Sydney Cup but she did show a hint of dourness in her last couple of runs, hence the reason James and the team have elected to go this way with her.
“We know she can run a good, strong two miles and if there is a bit of rain around that will certainly suit her. She’s a very tough mare.”
Cummings adopted a similarly untraditional path with Zardozi in the spring, running her in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington three days before the Melbourne Cup.
However, the four-year-old had been given two prior starts in 2400m races.
She will be handled by two-time Sydney Cup winner Kerrin Mcevoy and has drawn ideally in barrier three.
A bumper field of 20 has been assembled for the Sydney Cup (3200m) with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Alalcance a dominant favourite after demolishing her rivals in the Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) last weekend.
Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa heads weights with 56.5kg and if successful will become just the third horse in the past 26 years to win with more than 56kg, the others being Tie The Knot (57kg, 1999) and Mourayan (58kg, 2013).
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