The question on everyone’s lips surrounds the Aquanita trained Hazzabeel, and whether we are yet to see the best of the exciting Zabeel 4yo.
Since storming onto the racing scene at the start of the month, the Simon Miller prepared gelding has impressed all in its first two starts – effortlessly disposing of rivals to date with consummate ease, and it has certainly painted a promising picture as it steps up for assignment No 3 at Ascot tomorrow for its first look at summer racing headquarters.
Debuting at Pinjarra, Hazzabeel showed it had a touch of class – leading throughout comfortably to score by 3 ¼ lengths drawing away over 1200m.
But it was the second run at Pinjarra that “dropped jaws” – hoop Paul Harvey restraining his mount as it sat outside early leader No More Secrets before shooting clear in the straight to record a 2 ¾ length victory.
Stepping up again in company tomorrow, fixed odd markets opened on a conservative note – not prepared to risk Hazzabeel beyond the $1.45 fav quote – with a likely thought in the back of their minds where breeding suggests that the best is probably yet to come.
Later on the card, problem beginner Our Michael ($5.00) will have its second start for the Frank Maynard camp in the fifth.
The Saxon 5yo showed a brilliant turn of foot earlier in its career before a string of poor starts forced a change of education – with Maynard seeming to have corrected its bad barrier behaviour.
This was evident last start, when Our Michael jumped with the field and looked to have the race in its keeping before being swamped in the shadows of the post over 1100m after leading to the turn.
Craig Staples will take the ride tomorrow, and has drawn perfectly in barrier one for the 1000m scamper.
