ZAHRA GETS THE JOB DONE AGAIN

THE Caulfield Cup was a classic one with European stayers to the fore and Mark Zahra again proving he’s an under-rated jockey in the Australian jockey ranks.

In the past three years Zahra has now won two Caulfield Cups having scored on Verry Elleegant in 2020 and now Without A Fight and the Melbourne Cup last year on Gold Trip.

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Now he’s in the enviable position of having to decide between Gold Trip and Without A Fight for the 2023 Melbourne Cup.

As Without A Fight’s co-trainer Sam Freedman pointed out there’s a reason why trainers want him to ride their horses in the big staying races and that’s because he’s so good in the big races.

“He gets the job done more often than not,” Freedman said on Racing.Com.

It is why the trainers pestered Zahra to ride Without A Fight in the Caulfield Cup when there was a chance he was going to stay with Gold Trip instead.

In a fast run Caulfield Cup, the best Melbourne Cup trials were handed in from Without A Fight and Gold Trip.

It was no wonder Ciaron Maher was rapt after Gold Trip’s effort as he proved he could carry the same weight he will carry in the Melbourne Cup.

It would be a surprise if Zahra did not stay with Gold Trip in the Melbourne Cup.

Gold Trip is a $5.50 second favourite for the Melbourne Cup behind Vauban at $4.50. Without A Fight is $6.50 with PlayUp.

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Japanese stayer Breakup also put in a solid Melbourne Cup trial with his eighth as he was dour over the concluding stages and he will be better suited over 3200 metres.

Soulcombe also ran on well after missing the start by six lengths to finish seventh.