The Ciaron Maher stable is anticipating that the addition of blinkers will help French import Zabiari regain his former overseas form as he contests the final stakes race of the Sydney season.
A multiple Group 3 victor over a mile in France, Zabiari debuted locally last month in the Civic Stakes (1400m) and finished in the midfield pack.
He has since had a trial to maintain his sharpness, and Maher’s assistant trainer, Jo Gerard-Dubord, has indicated that the gear adjustment has proven effective at home, with hopes that this will carry over to race day.
“He’s still an entire and he’s very casual,” Gerard-Dubord stated. “The best of his trials here was the one with the blinkers on. He’s a lot sharper in them at home and on his best, he is certainly up to a race like this. Now he’s had the run here, blinkers going on, we want to see something from him.”
Gerard-Dubord, who honed his skills in the French racing industry before relocating to Australia, is well-positioned to evaluate Zabiari’s European performances. Zabiari, who achieved Group victories at Longchamp and Chantilly, also secured placings twice in Listed grade at Deauville across his 12 international starts. Any rainfall on Saturday would not hinder his prospects in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.
Maher also has recent stable acquisition Eliyass accepted, but will monitor weather conditions and scratchings before confirming a start. Eliyass made a strong start, winning his first three Australian races in the spring of 2024, before his performance declined.
Following fetlock surgery and a stable change after finishing ninth in last year’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), Eliyass was significantly outpaced in the Civic Stakes (1400m) first-up. Gerard-Dubord anticipates he will require another run to reach peak fitness.
“He was wide with no cover, and raced a bit fresh, so to the eye it probably looked plain, but it was just a starting point,” Gerard-Dubord commented. “He’s improved since, but he’ll take a couple of runs until he gets back to his best. We’ll probably work towards the Premier’s Cup Prelude. He’s a horse we need to have right for the spring, and it’s just finding the best path leading into it.”
The Winter Challenge has drawn a full field, topped by the trifecta from the Winter Stakes: General Salute, McHale, and Midnight Dynamite, alongside the revitalised seven-year-old War Eternal, who has won three of his last four starts in Queensland.
For competitive racing odds on the Winter Challenge, explore the leading Australian betting sites.
