Annabel Neasham’s star import Zaaki returns as the deserving short-priced favourite to successfully defend his title in the 2022 A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast this weekend.
Last year’s champ Zaaki is odds-on favourite to take out Saturday’s 2022 A.D. Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Last Queensland Winter Racing Carnival the ace British-bred galloper was brilliant winning the Group 2 $500,000 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) by over two lengths.
He would go on to enjoy a stellar season in the sunshine state recording a seven-length romp home in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) before victory in the lucrative $1.2 million Group 2 The Q22 over 2200m.
A subsequent dual Group 1 champion in Melbourne over the spring, the evergreen seven-year-old has been equally impressive this campaign.
Two back Zaaki won the $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m) in style at HQ before his close second on a Heavy (10) Randwick track when only a half-length second to Think It Over in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
He’s been freshened-up since and looks ready to fire with a month between runs.
Drawn a treat in barrier four with James McDonald aboard, Zaaki is the class horse and looks a huge chance to go back-to-back in the race for the first time since Leebaz (2015-16).
The AD Hollindale Stakes betting markets suggest the same with Zaaki at an odds-on quote of $1.60 and firming at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The only other runner under double-figures at current AD Hollindale Stakes odds of $6 is Ayrton for Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr.
Jumping from out wide in barrier 14 with Hugh Bowman in the saddle, the ultra-consistent Kiwi-bred son of Iffraaj is starting to put together a very nice record with six wins and two minor placings from his eight career starts to date.
A progressive four-year-old, he has won two of his past three assignments in easier grade including a last start Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) win at Caulfield over Streets Of Avalon.
Outside the top two in betting the only other runners under $20 for an upset are the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained French import Huetor ($11), the Chris Waller-trained mare Polly Grey ($13) coming off a Group 3 JRA Plate win (2000m) at Randwick and the airborne daughter of Shamexpress from New Zealand Coventina Bay ($19).
The 2022 A.D. Hollindale Stakes is set to run as the Gold Coast Race 8 at 3:33pm (AEST) with the latest markets, courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au, available in full here.
2022 AD Hollindale Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1x1131x212 | ZAAKI (GB) | Annabel Neasham | James McDonald | 4 | 59kg | 119 | ||
| 2 | 1x599x0480 | KOLDING (NZ) | Chris Waller | Luke Dittman | 13 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 3 | 1x121x13x1 | AYRTON (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Hugh Bowman | 14 | 59kg | 104 | ||
| 4 | 515510×438 | GREAT HOUSE (IRE) | Chris Waller | Ben Thompson | 6 | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 5 | 1x28057x61 | KUKERACHA (NZ) | Chris Waller | James Orman | 12 | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 6 | x1682x5266 | YONKERS (USA) | Chris Waller | Larry Cassidy | 9 | 59kg | 102 | ||
| 7 | 1400x900x7 | DASHING WILLOUGHBY (GB) | Sam Kavanagh | Noel Callow | 1 | 59kg | 100 | ||
| 8 | x2242x6x00 | MAXIMAL (GB) | John O’Shea | Ryan Maloney | 2 | 59kg | 95 | ||
| 9 | 0019x111x3 | HUETOR (FR) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 59kg | 93 | ||
| 10 | 215×804223 | HAIL MANHATTAN | Peter & Will Hulbert | Brad Stewart | 11 | 59kg | 93 | ||
| 11 | 709×122112 | COVENTINA BAY (NZ) | Robbie Patterson | Ms Samantha Collett | 3 | 57kg | 109 | ||
| 12 | 5x013x2021 | POLLY GREY (NZ) | Chris Waller | Opie Bosson | 10 | 57kg | 108 | ||
| 13 | x84837x4x0 | HUNGRY HEART | Chris Waller | William Pike | 8 | 57kg | 107 | ||
| 14 | 1x03411x69 | ZAYYDANI (NZ) | Ben & JD Hayes | Andrew Mallyon | 5 | 57kg | 105 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
