Zebulon was included in the acceptances for both the 2014 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night and the Caulfield Guineas Prelude on Sunday, but co-trainer Peter Morgan has revealed that the talented colt is likely to contest the Stutt Stakes.
Zebulon has the chance to record his maiden win at Group level in the 2014 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Zebulon draw ideally in barrier two of nine in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) and barrier three of 16 in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1600m), but Morgan told Sky Racing HQ that he believes that the Stutt Stakes is the better race for the three-year-old.
“I think at this stage we are going Friday night,” Morgan said.
“I think from barrier two we will make sure that he jumps out alright this time and gets a good run in the race.
“He should get a pretty soft run just sitting behind the lead, so that is our plan at this stage.
“We looked at the big field on Sunday and it looks like it could be a bit of a messy race and that one reason why we are going to head to Friday night.”
Zebulon performed well in three race starts during the winter, including a luckless third in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 12, and started his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a fast-finishing third behind Merion and Chivalry in the Listed Living Legends Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 13.
Morgan admits that he and co-trainer Craig Widdison made have made a mistake by instructing jockey Stephen Baster to settle Zebulon towards the tail of the field, but the Whittlesea based trainer was happy with the performance of the All American colt.
“We might have messed up,” Morgan said.
“The horse is an intelligent horse and when we snagged him at the start he must have thought that he didn’t want to go.
“We got left a bit further back then we wanted to, but he did get home good.
“We weren’t far behind Chivalry at the top of the straight and he sort of left us and then we had to come across his heels and we probably lost about half a length at that point.”
Zebulon is currently available at 2014 Stutt Stakes odds of $4.50 with Ladbrokes Australia and he is on the third line of betting from Gai Waterhouse-trained Almalad ($2.90) and McNeil Stakes winner Chivalry ($3.40).
