Five talking points: Zaaki back to his best

The Melbourne Cup Carnival came to a close with the Mackinnon Stakes meeting. Whilst in Sydney it was the two-year-olds on show with the running of the $1 Million Golden Gift.  

1. Zaaki back to his best 

After a rollercoaster Spring campaign the band got back together on Saturday with James McDonald guiding the short priced favourite home. Once he settled in the lead and kicked on the turn there was no running down the superstar partnership, with Cascadian the unlikely challenger. He heads for a well earned break now ahead of an Autumn campaign with the Queen Elizabeth Stakes a likely target. It sets up a mouthwatering clash with the likes of Verry Elleegant, Incentivise and Anamoe who could all be headed there too. 

2. Nature Strip tops off successful campaign

“Conquers another mountain” were the words of Matt Hill when Nature Strip claimed his second VRC Sprint Classic. Whilst the mountain wasn’t as big as the Everest, the win was very impressive on the eye and another well deserved Group 1 for our champion sprinter. There is once again talk about whether he takes on the world and now looks like the perfect time after claiming all the major sprints in Australia. 

3. Sejardan and Shalatin off to the Slipper 

The Golden Gift is starting to become a prominent target for the early two-year-old runners with a million dollars on the line. This year could be a key guide to this season’s Golden Slipper with Sejardan and Shalatin guaranteed a spot after Saturday’s first two finishes. Sejardan’s win was impressive but the run of Shalatin once again raised eyebrows with his devastating turn of foot. Both colts have been sent straight to the paddock and it’s all systems go to the now $5 million dollar Golden Slipper in late March.   

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4. McDonald breaks record 

It was James McDonald’s carnival after he took out four majors including the Coolmore, Melbourne Cup, VRC Sprint Classic and the Mackinnon Stakes. Not only did he pick up multiple group 1’s but he set a new cup week record riding the 10 winners. McDonald notched up the 10 on Zaaki beating home Brett Prebble who previously held the record and the embrace past the post was a great spectacle to end the 2021 Melbourne Cup Carnival. 

5. $101 winner in Sydney

All eyes were on Melbourne but the running of Race 5 at Rosehill saw a major upset with Real Time Warrior saluting at $101. It wasn’t any old race either, it was the Country Classic which country trainers around NSW entered in. It was also a major thrill for Laura Lafferty who picked up her first NSW metropolitan winner since relocating to Sydney earlier this season.

Looking ahead to next weekend…

Whilst the Spring has ended the quality of racing doesn’t stop with The Hunter to take place on Saturday. Lost And Running is the short priced favourite and looks the one to beat. In Melbourne, the Listed Cranbourne Cup takes centre stage.  

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