Zaaki Heads 2021 Mackinnon Stakes Field & Betting

November 4, 2021

Zaaki Heads 2021 Mackinnon Stakes Field & Betting

Scratched Cox Plate favourite Zaaki gets the chance at a consolation prize on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival with the Annabel Neasham-trained import heading Flemington’s 2021 Mackinnon Stakes field and betting markets.

The final elite level of the carnival, Saturday’s Group 1 $2 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) features a top-class field of 10 gallopers and it is Zaaki tipped to win from gate eight.

Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup winning jockey James McDonald could be in for another big day riding the favourites in both Group 1s on the card in the saddle of Nature Strip in the Darley Classic and Zaaki in the Mackinnon Stakes.

Zaaki, along with the eventually beaten short-priced Melbourne Cup favourite Incentivise who crossed four lengths behind Waller’s champion mare Verry Elleegant in the ‘race that stops a nation’, has been one of the spruik horses of the season.

He won a string of races and was excellent second up taking out the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) by two lengths before things began to unravel.

Racing flat he finished third in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) in a shock loss behind Probabeel, but was tipped to atone heading markets for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 23.

The seven-year-old was sensationally scratched from the Australasian weight-for-age championship the morning of however due to an elevated temperature.

Neasham quickly put plans in place to scheduled the Mackinnon as a new Grand Final aim for the galloper and the bookies have him as the $2.45 favourite through Ladbrokes.com.au to return to winning form off the setback.

The stable is also represented in this year’s Mackinnon Stakes field by early market mover Mo’unga ($8) who looks a genuine chance to upset his better fancied stablemate.

Winner over the distance in Sydney’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) as a three-year-old, Mo’unga has some very nice form lines from his solid spring campaign.

The now four-year-old son of Savabeel, to be ridden from gate five by Hugh Bowman, defeated Verry Elleegant fresh in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m).

He was narrowly beaten when second to Incentivise next-up in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, before returning to Sydney when fifth only one and a half lengths off the better-weighted Private Eye in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Mo’unga lost few admirers in the Cox Plate at The Valley then when fourth behind State Of Rest, a race that Verry Elleegant ran third in before her powerhouse Cup victory.

The other single-figure fancy for the Mackinnon this year is the Godolphin-raced Colette ($4.80) chasing her third win on the trot.

She was too good in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes and franked that form on Derby Day taking out he Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) against her fellow mares.

On the quick back-up she is fit and in a very good vein of form looking to do the Group 1 mile double on back-to-back Saturdays at HQ.

Also coming off a Group 1 mile win from Derby Day is the Danny O’Brien-trained Superstorm who narrowly denied The Invitation winner Icebath victory in the Kennedy Cantala.

Superstorm won from barrier 12 of 14 with Damien Oliver aboard and lines-up from the outside barrier (10) this weekend with Luke Currie coming aboard the $13 shot.

Three-time Kennedy Cantala placegetter Cascadian ($12) is also on the seven-day back-up off his brave third, Brett Prebble to ride the James Cummings-trained galloper from barrier two.

The 2021 Mackinnon Stakes is set to run as Flemington Race 8 at 5:10pm (AEDT) on Saturday with full markets available courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au here.

2021 Mackinnon Stakes Field & Barriers

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 31x932x240 HOMESMAN (USA) Anthony & Sam Freedman Jye McNeil 1 59kg 110
2 3413×54543 CASCADIAN (GB) James Cummings Brett Prebble 2 59kg 111
3 0736×41331 SUPERSTORM Danny O’Brien Luke Currie 10 59kg 112
4 x6D111x113 ZAAKI (GB) Annabel Neasham James McDonald 8 59kg 118
5 54x300x474 KEIAI NAUTIQUE (JPN) Matthew Smith Craig Newitt 6 59kg 106
6 x0733x0836 DALASAN Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas Craig Williams 3 59kg 108
7 32107×1254 MO’UNGA (NZ) Annabel Neasham Hugh Bowman 5 58.5kg 112
8 x821x17418 PRIVATE EYE Joseph Pride Nash Rawiller 9 58.5kg 108
9 12454×6511 COLETTE James Cummings Damian Lane 4 57kg 112
10 78111×8483 HUNGRY HEART Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 7 56.5kg 107

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Top honours in the 2024 Canterbury Stakes results at Royal Randwick went to...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up