Zebrinz will return to the races in the 2015 Aurie’s Star Handicap and co-trainer Leon Corstens is confident that the consistent sprinter is ready to run well fresh in the Group 3 event at Flemington tomorrow.
Zebrinz has the chance to claim a maiden win at black-type level in the 2015 Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Zebrinz joined Team Corstens before the start of his autumn campaign and he finished his maiden campaign with his new stable with fighting wins in the Hygain Handicap (1400m) at Ballarat on March 12, the Blog Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on March 25 and the Gallagher Basset Gold Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on April 18.
The Sebring gelding has generally produced his best form over 1400 metres or a mile, but Corstens told RSN this morning that he is confident Zebrinz will be able to sprint well fresh in the Aurie’s Star Handicap after he impressed with his performance in a jump out at Flemington last Friday.
“I am really pleased with him,” Corstens said.
“He is only a little horse and he is stepping up a bit more in class tomorrow, but I thought he trialed really well down the straight here last week and I am really pleased with him.
“I don’t think so, especially down the straight.
“I thought that he would run a very forward racing without saying that he is a good thing or anything like that.
“I thought he would go really good.
“He has done a very good job since he has been with us.”
Team Corstens are keen to win a black-type race with Zebrinz during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but the veteran trainer said that they did not have any firm plans with the five-year-old and would likely work out what races they want to target with the promising sprinter.
“We will just take the races as they come,” Corstens said.
“I think Saturday will give us a really good guide as to where we go and what we do with him from there on.”
Zebrinz is currently available at 2015 Aurie’s Star Handicap odds of $10 with Ladbrokes and he is on the fifth line of betting behind well-backed favourite Shiraz ($2.80 into $2.25), two-time Group 1 winner Trust In A Gust ($2.30 out to $3.40) and All Victorian Sprint Series Final winner Playmaster ($13 into $9.50).
Team Corstens also have Leia, Del Prado, Boogielicious and Avenue Of Glory in action at Flemington tomorrow afternoon.
