PLUMPTON trainer Patrick Payne is bringing a big team to the bet365 Mildura meeting at Sandilong Park on Monday with the lightly raced gallopers Abdication, Oh So Thrilliing, Xaphan, Go Atti Go and Zambezi Khan.
He will contest the Blagus Electrical Handicap with promising stayer Zambezi Khan.
The up and coming stayer Zambezi Khan is a former New Zealander who was trained by Guy Lowry. She recorded a debut win in her home country at Tauherenikau in January last year and was sent across to Australia after two more race starts.
Lowry campaigned the filly in Australia during the spring last year which included a second placing at Kyneton and a smart win at Mornington in October.
Zambezi Khan then tackled the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes on the Victoria Derby race day program. After being specked in the betting from $101 into $61 she came from the rear to finish eighth behind Amazonian Lass.
The three-year-old was then sent for a spell, and was transferred into the care of the Patrick Payne stable.
Zambezi Khan was given three trials by Payne before her racing preparation. She resumed with an eighth placing in a handy line-up behind the smart winner Coco Sun at Sandown on March 27.
The youngster showed the benefit of added fitness to record an eye catching third at Geelong.
The BM58 Handicap at Mildura will be a drop back in class, and the extra 400-metres to the 1900m journey makes it a suitable assignment.
Swan Hill based jockey Harry Coffey has had one of his best years in the saddle and it should be another successful day at Mildura as he has a full book of rides with a host of winning chances.
Coffey has been riding in top form which includes recording a winning double at the Swan Hill meeting on April 9.
He has also achieved feature race success over recent months with a Group 1 victory in the Oakleigh Plate with Queman, as well as Adelaide and Launceston Cup victories with the impressive and well-named stayer Excelleration.
Coffey can continue his winning run at Mildura as he has strong winning chances across his eight rides.
Three have opened up as a pre-post favourite including the two runners for the visiting training partnership of Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans of Cranbourne in Celebration and You Oughta Know.
Celebration has been placed second on two occasions from her four start career after recording fast finishing efforts at Moe and at her latest outing at Echuca.
With Coffey taking the reins the filly is a big chance of bringing up her first career win in the opening event on the program in the Mildura & District Real Estate Maiden Plate.
The other stable representative is You Oughta Know who is a daughter of the former champion stallion Lonhro who sadly passed away this week.
You Oughta Know finished third at her race track debut at Seymour in September last year and has been unplaced in her past three outings, but has been competing in strong Maiden class races.
The three-year-old ran on strongly from the rear of the field at Pakenham on April 4 and will appreciate the extra distance to 2000m, so is also a winning chance in the Mildura Plumbing Plus Maiden Plate.
The first of eight races on the program will be run at 1.30pm with patrons admitted free of charge.
Selections:
- 9. Celebration, 3. Abdication, 10. Lonely One, 8. Wanted In A Gust
- 4. Coronation Drive, 3. Aramoso, 9. Oh So Thrilling, 11. Xaphan
- 4. Shake’n’Bake, 5. Tymon, 11. Gabbatron, 2. Go Atti Go
- 10. You Oughta Know, 7. Shogun Express, 5. St Dominic, 3. Free Fallin’
- 2. Zambezi Khan, 1. Capricorn Ridge, 6. Puissance Dusoleil, 5. Headlock
- 4. Babayka, 3. Flyin’ For Us, 2. The Wayfarer, 7. Redneck Princess
- 1. Jilladora, 8. Long Lost Friend, 12. Masina, 6. Over You Pop
- 2. Just Like Lisa, 4. Chiq Magnet, 3. Dark Skies, 10. The Hay Flyer
Best Bet: Race 5, Zambezi Khan. Best Value Bet: Race 8, Just Like Lisa.
