Hong Kong-based jockey James McDonald will undertake a hit-and-run mission to ride ZAAKI in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes over 1800m at Ascot Racecourse in Australia on Saturday.
ZAAKI, a four-time Group 1 victor, is regarded as the class runner in the Northerly Stakes. The highly favoured contender, currently priced around $2.6 in betting, enters the event after an honest spring campaign, displaying commendable performances in four major races but falling short of securing a victory. ZAAKI last clinched a win six starts ago in May, triumphing in the Group 2 Hollindale at Doomben. “He should be very, very hard to beat,” McDonald said in a recent interview. “He’s in such good form, Annabel (Neasham) has been reporting in that he’s such a happy horse and when he’s a happy horse he normally runs particularly well.”
Five-year-old mare ALSEPHINA stands as the second favourite, offering the best chance among the local competitors. Similar to ZAAKI, the nine-time winner out of 14 races is winless during the spring but has consistently finished as a runner-up, losing by no more than one length in three races.
Over in the east, quality four-year-old gelding INSURRECTION looks poised to continue his wining ways when he contests the $200,000 Listed Razor Sharp Handicap over 1200m at Royal Randwick racecourse.
INSURRECTION has been an ultra-consistent performer for the Michel Freedman yard, winning six from 18 while placing a further seven times. Stringing together a hat-trick of wins throughout June and July, INSURRECTION spelled for four months and resumed with a handy fourth first-up in early November before bouncing back to his best second-up with an easy win in the $300k The Warra (1000m).
INSURRECTION is a slight query at 1200m but stands out as the form choice in this week’s race and is the one to beat.
