Zanbagh has returned to slick form for trainer John Thompson this season and has been confirmed to take her place in the field for Saturday’s 2016 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
John Thompson is pleased with Zanbagh ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart
Zanbagh began her racing career under the guidance of the late Guy Walter in 2013 and passed through the care of Patrick Payne before arriving at Thompson’s Randwick stables at the conclusion of a disappointing autumn campaign in 2015.
Having returned from a brief freshen-up for second in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) on February 27th, the Bernardini mare ran on for a credible fifth in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 12th before savaging the line for success in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) last time.
Thompson has been thrilled with the form displayed and results posted by Zanbagh this time and is confident the conditions of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes and the Randwick track will play into the five-year-old’s strengths on Day 2 of The Championships.
“Zanbagh is in great order although she is probably more advantaged if the track was wet,” Thompson told The Daily Telegraph.
“She’s come through the Emancipation in really good order and will be hard to beat this weekend.
“I think the bigger track will only help her and it doesn’t matter where she draws.”
Zanbagh has posted a number of impressive results through her entire racing career; securing a total of five wins and as many minors through twenty-nine competitive starts.
A standout for Walter during the 2013 Spring Carnival, Zanbagh placed third in the Glen Mia Mane Lodge BM55 (1400m) in September; progressing to consecutive wins in the City Of Ballarat Maiden (1600m) and Sportsbet Top Tote Plus BM64 (2000m) before running a close second to Kirramosa in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m).
Returning in 2014 in similarly good condition, the mare out of Wild Iris placed fifth in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) and won the Group 3 Keith F Nolan Classic (1600m); ending her last campaign for Walter fifth in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and second in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m).
Ladbrokes Australia are currently offering Zanbagh as a $7 second-favourite in 2016 Queen Of The Turf Stakes betting markets.
