Zaaki in doubt for King Charles III Stakes

Zaaki is in doubt for his Royal Randwick assignment on Saturday

Zaaki is in a race against time to be fit for the $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Annabel Neasham has reported to Racing NSW stewards that Zaaki has a slightly elevated blood cell count.

Although Zaaki is said to present "as being clinically normal", a blood irregularity could be an indication of a minor virus or other similar complaint.

Neasham has ordered a further blood sample be taken from Zaaki for testing with the results expected early on Saturday morning.

The results of the second blood test and Zaaki's overall condition will be assessed early tomorrow morning to determine if the gelding can contest the King Charles III Stakes.

Zaaki, the outstanding nine-year-old gelding which has won 15 races and more than $10 million in prizemoney, is at $9 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting behind Mr Brightside at $2.20 for the feature Randwick mile.

It would be a cruel blow for Neasham if Zaaki is ruled out of another big race as the gelding was a race morning scratching from the Cox Plate two years ago with an elevated temperature.

Meanwhile, Racing NSW stewards also advised Mazu, one of the chances in the $20 million The TAB Everest, shifted his off-fore plate which resulted in some of the hoof wall coming way. As a result, some synthetic hoof filler (equliox) has been applied to the hoof in order to refit the plate.