J-Mac aiming to keep unbeaten Zaaki record in tact

McDonald boasts a perfect seven from seven record on the three-time Group 1 winner and made a flying visit to Brisbane on Tuesday morning to gallop the Annabel Neasham-trained star.CLICK HERE: SIGN-UP FOR A RACENET IQ MEMBERSHIP FOR ONLY $4.99Having ridden some of the superstars of the Australian turf in recent years, McDonald said Zaaki has the opportunity to cement his spot among the country’s best by going back-to-back in the Doomben Cup, where he is a $1.40 favourite. “The thing about Zaaki is he is easy because he is push button, he puts himself up there, he has a high cruising speed and he can sustain it while absorbing pressure – he really is the ultimate weight-for-age horse,” he said.“He makes life a bit easier, he is a pleasure to ride – obviously he has his quirks.“I actually don’t think I have been beaten on him, I remember the first time (I rode him) and it was one of those feelings.“He is well up there. Verry Elleegant is obviously the benchmark for me but she was always tricky, she didn’t help herself at times and she didn’t have the high cruising speed this horse has got.“He is like a prize fighter, when his tail is up, it is game on in a big way – let’s go, it’s time for business.“He is the type of horse, if he was a boxer and he got punched in the head, he could curl but he hasn’t showed that yet – he is just a brute.”With the race pushed back a week and moved from Doomben to Eagle Farm due to incredible rain across southeast Queensland, McDonald said Zaaki will be right at home with firmer footing after labouring through the heavy Gold Coast track in the Hollindale Stakes earlier this month. “Thank god (the races were moved) because the heavy track brings him back to the field a bit,” McDonald said. “He wasn’t (at his best) at the Gold Coast because it was so gluey, but this track will suit him perfectly, Annabel has brought him here three times and he is very familiar with it.“He was very good (on Tuesday morning), he wasn’t out to do a hell of a lot and he just breezed through his work over 1000m, home in 24.5(sec) or 25 and he’s pulled up extremely well so he is ticking along well.”Zaaki headlines a bumper day for McDonald, who rides Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup favourite Paulele along with leading Queensland Derby hope Caboche on the day, while he also faces a nervous wait to see if the Coolmore-owned Political Debate can sneak into the $1m Sires’ Produce field. Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au