Zaaki ‘going better' for third Cox Plate attempt

Annabel Neasham has declared Zaaki "better than last year", in a third attempt to win Australia's best race.

Neasham, still haunted by Zaaki's Cox Plate morning scratching two years ago, insists the veteran weight-for-age star still has the zip and zest to prove doubters wrong in Saturday's $5m Group 1.

Four-time Group 1 winner Zaaki has been overlooked in the market, a $19 outsider with TAB, despite three top-class triumphs at 2000m, including the past two Champions Stakes at Flemington.

"I feel like his action is just beautiful this year, the whole time we've had him he's been fairly consistent, so it's hard to really say improve but I get the feeling he's going slightly better than this time last year," Neasham said.

Zaaki, a short-priced favourite for the Cox Plate in 2021 prior to being withdrawn with a spike in temperature, returned last year to finish fourth behind Anamoe.

The $10m prizemoney earner coincidently missed a run a fortnight ago, in the $5m King Charles III Stakes, with an elevated white blood cell count.

"He is bouncing," Neasham said.

"It was only a minor issue, it certainly won't be affecting him.

"He looked great galloping (on Tuesday morning), and was full of beans. I think he knows where he is.

"He's obviously going to be six weeks between runs, that doesn't concern me, he goes really well fresh, he wouldn't have blown a candle out (Tuesday), he's recovered really quickly from that."

Zaaki (blue and red silks) finished fourth in last year's Cox Plate won by Anamoe. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Neasham, who also saddles $41 outsider My Oberon in the Cox Plate, is still haunted by the 2021 Zaaki withdrawal.

"Certainly … it was gut-wrenching," Neasham said.

"I had only been training for about 14 months and had Zaaki obviously as favourite and was scratched on race morning.

"It still haunts me a little bit. But certainly winning (a Cox Plate) with him (this year) would be very special.

"I know everyone is saying he is old, but I haven't noticed any change in him. If anything, I think he has just got a bit more spark about him this year than he did 12 months ago."

Jockey Jamie Kah was initially offered the ride before a decision was made to go with Damian Lane.

"We did offer it to Jamie, but she was weighing up a few options," she said.

"It is a bit of a scramble … so we made the decision. ‘Frosty' (Lane) was available but wouldn't have been for long.

"(I'm) very happy to have him on. He is riding at the highest strike rate in Victoria. He is a good big-race jockey and he knows how to win this race."

Lane won the 2019 Cox Plate on Japanese raider Lys Gracieux.

Neasham said last year's Crystal Mile winner My Oberon deserved the chance to take on the Cox Plate, especially off the back of a strong third to Fangirl and Mr Brightside in the King George III Stakes last start.

"He really deserves his place," she said of the seven-year-old.

"He has only had that one victory (in Australia), here at Moonee Valley and I think he has just improved out of sight.

"I think he is way over the odds."

Zaaki will attempt a third straight Champions/Mackinnon Stakes success. Tranquil Star won three between 1942-45 but missed in 1943.

"I quite like the idea of going fresh with him (into Cox Plate after missing King Charles), it means he's going to run a big race Saturday," Neasham said.

"We've still got a pretty fresh horse trying to go for our third Mackinnon Stakes."