Cranbourne trainer Grahame Begg can start planning a path towards this year’s edition of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup with Saturday’s VRC Andrew Ramsden Plate (2800m) winner Zakouma.
The Flemington Listed race not only carried $300,000 in prizemoney but a prized ballot exemption from this year’s $10 million Melbourne Cup to be run on November 3.
Zakouma (5g Crowded House – Dar Es Salaam by Zabeel) is a WA homebred for Trevor and Terrie Delroy who own Wyadup Valley Farm near Yallingup and they’ve been very patient with the lightly-raced gelding.
“This horse is a true stayer,” Begg said. “He’s a horse I can run over a trip, first-up in an 1800m race or something like that, and we will get him here fit and well on the first Tuesday in November.”
The Delroys have been very successful with his family going back three-generations to British-bred mare Shana (Darshaan).
They’ve bred and/or owned Group 1 classic winners Helenus (VRC Victoria Derby), Ethiopia (ATC Australian Derby), Cedarberg (ATC The BMW), Gondokoro (Queensland Oaks) and Zabeelionaire (SA Derby).
Zakouma’s dam Dar Es Salaam (NZ) is a younger full-sister to Gondokoro (Zabeel) and Zabeelionaire (Zabeel). Second-dam Kisumu (Carnegie) won a Sale maiden and earned Group 2 black-type when runner-up to Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice) in the 2007 MRC Angus Armanasco Stakes (1600m).
Third-dam Shaana was bred in Newmarket by Kirsten Rausing and owned a classic pedigree through her sire Darshaan (GB) who won the 1984 French Derby. The top-line comprised earlier blue-riband winners Shirley Heights (1978 England Derby) and Mill Reef (1971 England Derby).
Winning jockey Jordan Childs endorsed Zakouma as a horse who will not be out of place at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. “The way he got through the line today, he definitely gives me enough of a feel that he should be able to stay in the distance,” Childs said.
“He’s got that entry now so Grahame can plot a path and hopefully he’s there on the first Tuesday in November. So I might have to start dieting now.”