Zoutenant stamped himself as a 2015 Magic Millions Classic contender when he took out the Wyong Magic Millions Classic on December 18, but trainer Kevin Moses has revealed that he was disappointed with the way the talented colt performed on a Heavy track during trackwork at the Gold Coast yesterday.
Glyn Schofield has been booked to ride Zoutenant in the 2015 Magic Millions Classic. Photo by: Taron Clarke
The Gold Coast track is currently rated a Heavy 8 after overnight showers hit the Gold Coast and there is more rain predicted over the coming days; with Moses desperately hoping that these showers stay away and the track is given an opportunity to dry out ahead of the Magic Millions Classic on Saturday.
“Last Tuesday before he left Sydney I worked him and I was more than happy with him on a good track,” Moses told Racing Ahead.
“I went and told a few of the owners they should be taking the 18 to one because when he gets up there it will drop if he draws a good alley, but I rode him yesterday and I was just a little bit disappointed.
“He was working good, but the last 200 metres when I wanted him to stretch that little bit he just didn’t have confidence on the track.
“The track was a heavy nine and he just didn’t have the confidence to stretch.
“He worked great until I asked him to put that pressure on and he just didn’t stretch that little extra bit that I would have liked him too.
“I just hope the track isn’t heavy.
“They have only got to come back six inches and six inches over the last 200 metres means a lot.”
Zoutenant made his racing debut with a second place finish behind the talented Voilier in the Sire Custodians Plate (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on December 6 before he raced greenly, but was still able to defeat the likes of Surf Seeker, Single Gaze and Perignon in the Wyong Magic Millions Classic just under two weeks later.
While Moses is worried about the prospect of a wet track at the Gold Coast on Saturday, he has no concerns about the physical condition of Zoutenant and he believes that the Zizou colt took plenty of benefit from his Magic Millions Classic win.
“He did a few things wrong at Wyong, but still got home to win and we were very happy about that,” Moses said.
“I do think that he has improved from the run.”
Zoutenant is currently available at 2015 Magic Millions Classic odds of $13, while Frequendly ($6) is now a joint favourite with Wicked Intent ($6).
