Consistent mare Zennista is set to run in the 2014 Brisbane Cup and trainer Lisa Latta is desperate for some rain to hit the Eagle Farm track before the running of the Group 2 event.
Lisa Latta is hoping that Zennista can be her first winner in Brisbane since Platinum Kingdom took out the Fred Best Classic last year. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Zennista has performed well without winning in her two starts during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival to date, finishing sixth in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) and fourth in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 24, and finished third behind Moriarty and Quintessential in the Brisbane Cup last year.
The daughter of Zenno Rob Roy has produced her best form on rain affected surfaces, scoring her only race win in Australia on a heavy surface in the Listed 2013 Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast, and Latta told The New Zealand Racing Desk that she would be confident about the chances of the six-year-old on a wet track in the Brisbane Cup this weekend, but admits her wish for some rain is looking increasingly unlikely.
“It was a much improved run,” Latta said.
“We are hoping for a bit of rain and I really don’t think that we are going to get it, but she is still on the way up and has improved from the run.
“She puts herself right in the race and I don’t think that the barrier draw is any concern for her.
“If we were going to get a bit of rain I would be confident, but I am a bit worried that there is no rain in the forecast.
“She is a good honest mare and she will still try.”
Latta also has King Kamada in Australia for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and the Shinko King gelding is set to contest the Listed Strawberry Road Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
King Kamada made his Australian racing debut with a luckless fourth in the XXXX Gold Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on May 10, but beat home only two runners when tenth in the Mittys Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
“He was very disappointing last week and we have been left scratching our heads,” Latta said.
“We have decided to back him up and put the blinkers on him for the first time.
“It was a really unusual run for him and he just never put in at all.
“His work has been good and I am happy with her and it doesn’t look like that strong of a field.”
Zennista is currently available at 2014 Brisbane Cup odds of $26, while King Kamada will start as one of the outsiders in the Strawberry Road field.
