Change Of Track The Key For Zarantz In Bunbury Cup Posted on March 16, 2016 | Posted by Julio Santarelli Lindsey Smith is banking on a change of venue to snap Zarantz back to winning form ahead of the Listed $120,000 XXXX-Gold Bunbury Cup (2200m) on Thursday. The Choisir gelding has raced with success at Northam, Pinjarra and Belmont, collecting five wins from 24 starts, but Ascot has proven to be his nemesis. Zarantz has had six attempts at Perth’s home of racing, including two starts back this preparation, but he has yet to command victory or a top three finish. “All I have to go on is the track and he has never looked like running a hole at Ascot,” Smith said on TABradio. “He just doesn’t go there, but if you take him to other tracks he is a consistent horse. “I know it’s a weak excuse but it does happen.” Two years ago Zarantz won four consecutive races between 1600m and 2200m and last winter at Belmont he collected one win and six placings from seven starts over similar trips. Despite his competence over a middle distance journey the five-year-old has been virtually ignored by punters and is currently one of the outsiders of the 13-horse field at $41. Smith, who is chasing his second Bunbury Cup triumph after combining with Belarus and jockey, Alana Williams in 2007, said Zarantz deserved to be considered among the chances. “I thought he was going to go on and be a Perth Cup horse after he won a race at Northam, because he let down and just exploded,” Smith said. “I haven’t seen that again, but I can fault his work and I’m just hoping it’s the track. “I think he is worth including in your novelties.” Smith also has solid each way claims with, Cougar Express, rated a $10 chance with the TAB. The son of Danehill Express led the field before fading to fourth behind Uncle George at Ascot on Saturday. It followed four consecutive placings after he defeated Galaxy Prince by a head (2400m) at Ascot in January. Smith said he would add the blinkers to Cougar Express in a bid to find the key winning edge. “He has won with them before (blinkers) and I have to find an extra length or two,” Smith said. “I’m hoping it can rattle his cage and give him a bit more focus.” Joseph Azzopardi rides Cougar Express from barrier seven. Kyra Yuill and Zarantz will combine from gate 12 with the scratchings of pre-race favourite, Angola and Saxapak.
Trent Cooper’s Gloucester Park Preview July 3, 2025 Race 1 MIKI MADE MONTY (9) was well-backed first-up and made light of the back row draw to win easily against inferior opposition. He goes… Read More
Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 17 July 3, 2025 THURSDAY North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 5.30pm A couple of steps forward, but one mighty big step back. That is perhaps the best… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Thursday Greyhound Best Bets July 3, 2025 MANDURAH Race 5 No. 4 Liberty Rules A race stacked with a lot of early speed, I believe Liberty Rules can be first to the… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Wednesday Greyhound Best Bets July 2, 2025 CANNINGTON Race 6 No. 1 Aston Kennedy Gets a lovely draw here underneath a few wide runners, was a very quick winner at Mandurah three… Read More
Scott Embry’s Thursday Bunbury Preview July 1, 2025 RACE 1 DISCO KICKS looks the leader in the inaugural Bunbury Sand Fibre (I’m going with Sand Fibre over Fibre Sand – deal with it)… Read More
Scott Embry’s Wednesday Northam Preview July 1, 2025 RACE 1 ZOURUN RUN trialled nicely at Belmont Park behind the undefeated Fiery Spark when settling rearwards and winding up nicely late into second (after… Read More
Warren Huntly’s Wednesday Sandown Preview July 1, 2025 Race 1 TOO MUCH TOO SOON stuck on well at 1212m last time and gives the impression 1300m will suit. IMZADA has jumped out much… Read More
Matt Young’s Tuesday Gloucester Park Preview July 1, 2025 Race 1 CHASE ME (9) is a boom pacer who made a successful debut in the west in his only start here, he looks to… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Tuesday Greyhound Best Bets July 1, 2025 MANDURAH Race 9 No. 2 Pronto Rocco Full of confidence aiming up for the hatrick here tonight, he’s not brilliant early so we are going… Read More
Matt Young’s Monday Pinjarra Preview June 30, 2025 Race 1 SOVEREIGN JEWEL (4) was ultra impressive in a recent trial and is bred in the purple to be a nice type, looks very… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Monday Greyhound Best Bets June 30, 2025 NORTHAM Race 7 No. 4 Boiler Maker Back fresh for this off a 6 week break, and although this is a fair bit short of… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Saturday Greyhound Best Bets June 28, 2025 CANNINGTON Race 2 No. 1 Italian Stallion Got the job done for us last week and that win will only give him the confidence he… Read More