Zaaki Unseats Elleegant as Cox Plate Favourite

Before the 2021 Hollindale Stakes, form experts said it was the best field for the race in a decade or more. After the Hollindale, jockey Glenn Boss questioned the value of Zaaki’s win, suggesting the field he beat wasn’t within cooee of Cox Plate material. Entitled to talk up his own Doomben Cup mount, Cox Plate-winning Sir Dragonet, Boss’ assessment now looks a touch uncharitable albeit Sir Dragonet pulled up coughing after looking gone just before the turn. Racing invariably lends itself to hyperbole and metaphors. What Zaaki did to a Doomben Cup field overflowing with Group 1 titles next to their names rendered it superfluous to introduce hackneyed adjectives. He arrived at the Brisbane course carrying a weight of expectation, and trainer Annabel Neasham took him home as probably the best racehorse in the country. Conspicuous by his absence from many Cox Plate markets after the Hollindale – there was a surprising $21 offered on the Sunday following the Gold Coast rout – Zaaki was quickly rushed in to $4.20 favourite for the Moonee Valley WFA feature after his 7-length Doomben demolition. In the process he punted reigning favourite Verry Elleegant, the winner of five Group 1s this season and a moral for Horse of the Year, to $10 second elect. The Queen is far from dead, but a new king awaits his accession.