Centurion Extra Zero is set to step out for start number one hundred and one in a 2040m Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Extra Zero, above, has been nominated for start number 101 at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Veteran galloper Extra Zero kept his legion of followers smiling when he saluted at $31 to win his one hundredth race start at Flemington over 2000m on May 20.
Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his father David and cousin Tom Dabernig, said that the ten year old still loves his racing and is still enthusiastic on the training tracks so he will continue to line up at the races.
“He’s going around at the moment like he’s a young two-year-old,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told AAP.
“He’s bouncing around and is so well in himself. He’s still got a great coat on him and he just loves being in training.
“He’s always enthusiastic, has his ears pricked in the morning working on the bridle.
“So he’s a great horse to train.”
Ben Hayes said that he was watching Extra Zero’s race at Flemington on the TV with his father and co-trainer David Hayes while at the Morphettville races and were blown away when the gelding bounded to the front to record his seventh win and take his prizemoney to over $1.7 million.
“Dad and I were watching it at Morphettville,” Hayes said.
“We were very interested in our other runner Ventura Storm and out of nowhere he just came through and won.
“It was fantastic.
“I think it was really special because it (his 100th start) was really built up by the media, and everyone had an interest and were all watching him for that reason.”
Twenty-six horses have been nominated for the Moonee Valley Handicap on Saturday and Hayes is hoping there will be plenty of pace on up front to give Extra Zero every chance to finish off his race again like he did at Flemington.
“He’s a horse who settles back, so he needs the speed on to be able to finish off, hence he’s had a lot of seconds,” Hayes said.
“You need everything to go right to charge home, but we’re thrilled with him and hopefully he can repeat what he did last start.”
As well as winning seven of his one hundred starts, Extra Zero has also finished second on twenty-two occasions plus ten third placings.
