Trainer Grahame Begg can feel a sense of relief as Zakouma has secured a spot in a Caulfield Cup lead-up race.
The six-year-old gelding was initially the second emergency for Saturday’s Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield, but two scratchings have opened the door for him to race.
Having already secured a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3, Begg has meticulously planned Zakouma’s preparation to ensure he reaches peak condition.
Zakouma resumed from a spell last month in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield, finishing a respectable sixth. Begg intends for the gelding to have only two more starts before contesting the Melbourne Cup.
A victory on Saturday would grant Zakouma a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17. If he does not win, his alternative plan is to compete in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) on October 10.
Notably, last year’s Naturalism Stakes winner, Half Yours, also gained a start as an emergency and went on to achieve the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.
Had Zakouma been unable to secure a start in Saturday’s race, Begg’s contingency plan involved running him in the JRA Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on September 26.
“Whatever way it worked out, his next run was going to be at 2000 metres, then one run at 2400 metres and then it’s straight into the (Melbourne) Cup,” Begg stated.
“If he won the Naturalism, he would go to the Caulfield Cup.
“It’s worth $6 million, so why not, but if he doesn’t win the Naturalism, he will go to the Herbert Power and then straight into the Melbourne Cup.”
Zakouma is assigned 51kg in the Caulfield Cup and sits at number 70 in the ballot order. A win on Saturday will ensure his place in the field. For the Melbourne Cup, he carries 52kg and holds a ballot exemption from his Andrew Ramsden Stakes victory at Flemington in May.
Begg and his team were pleased with Zakouma’s first-up performance, where he advanced from second-last position before the turn to finish sixth, just over four lengths behind the winner, Kingswood.
He indicated that Zakouma has improved significantly since that run.
“He’s got great lung capacity. His recovery is unbelievable,” Begg commented.
“He has come on a lot since his first-up run. His coat is still not there, still a bit woolly, but it’s starting to shift and another run will bring that along.”
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