Caulfield Guineas Goal For Zebulon

Trainer Peter Morgan is hoping that lightly-raced colt Zebulon can move closer to securing a spot in the 2014 Caulfield Guineas field by winning the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Zebulon will carry the top-weight of 59 kilograms in the Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington on Saturday.

Zebulon will carry the top-weight of 59 kilograms in the Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Zebulon made his racing debut with a second place finish behind the talented Zeletto in The Park Hotel Plate (1010m) at Werribee on June 15 before scoring his maiden race win with an impressive performance in the Murray Cox Handicap (1410m) at Flemington on June 28.

Morgan has always had a good opinion of Zebulon, who he believes has as much talent as Royal Randwick Stakes winner Eloping and the veteran trainer believes that the rising three-year-old is good enough to contest the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.

“He has shown all the attributes that he could be a Guineas horse and that’s the race we’ll probably head for anyway,” Morgan said.

“It becomes a bit different when spring comes along.

“A few horses jump out of the ground that you don’t know about, but at this stage he’s certainly a horse you would want to be heading that way.”

Zebulon is on top of the ballot for the Taj Rossi Series Final and has been allocated the equal top-weight of 59 kilograms, but Morgan revealed that he is no certainty to start the son of All American in the Listed event on Saturday.

While Morgan admits that a win in the Taj Rossi Series Final would help Zebulon qualify for Group races at the start of the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, he is mindful of overtaxing the two-year-old as he continues to develop.

“We’re just keeping a close eye on him,” Morgan said.

“I think he’s a good horse so we don’t really want to go there if he’s not 100 per cent, but at this stage we’re heading that way.”

The Taj Rossi Series Final has grown a strong list of nominations; with last start winner Vuelta, Darren Weir-trained Profit Share, Darley gelding Allergic, Robbie Laing-trained Cuban Fighter and provincial winner Fund Trader set to contest the $120,000 race.

Almalad ($9) is currently a narrow favourite in the 2014 Caulfield Guineas betting market with Ladbrokes Australia from Chivalry ($11), Looks Like The Cat ($11), Meursault ($11), Bachman ($13) and Brazen Beau ($13).

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.