Multiple Australian Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) could return to the Northern Hemisphere and run at Royal Ascot, trainer Annabel Neasham, announced. Racnet.com.au first reported the news. The 7-year-old gelding was successful twice at Group 3 level in his native land for Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge, and was snapped up by Neasham and Blandford Bloodstock for 150,000gns out of the 2020 Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale.
“I was hoping to take him to Hong Kong for that race, the [G1] Queen Elizabeth Cup, which I think is three weeks after the [G1] Queen Elizabeth S.,” Neasham told Racenet.com.au.. “We got him vaccinated for that but that's not going to be happening.”
Zaaki has proved a revelation once sent Down Under, and currently sports a record of seven wins in 11 Australian starts, three at the Group 1 level. His most recent victory was a 1 1/2-length score in the All-Star Mile at Flemington on Mar. 19.
“I'd love to take him back over to Royal Ascot,” said Neasham, who was forced to scratch her start from the G1 Cox Plate the morning of the race. “But I'd also love to win the Cox Plate with him because it was devastating what happened last year.
“Whether we can do England and come back for a Cox Plate, I don't know. We could win a Cox Plate with him and go overseas next year.”
She added, “I don't understand or get into all the ratings enough but I notice the Timeform ratings have been excellent. I just know that in this country, we've got great racing and great prizemoney.”
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