Zardozi springs into Underwood Stakes calculations

A fast-finishing second behind the flying Pride Of Jenni at the same track and distance back in the autumn has trainer Ciaron Maher quietly confident in Zardozi’s winning chances in Saturday’s G1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

The classy Godolphin mare gave away a big start in the G2 Peter Young Stakes over 1,800m on 15 March before powering to the line at her third run back from a spell.

While she’s only second-up this Saturday, after an eye-catching fifth in the So You Think Stakes (1,500m) at The Valley from last at the 800m pole two weeks ago, Zardozi had the benefit of two Randwick barrier trials before heading south to join Maher’s Cranbourne stable.

Maher was pleased with the former VRC Oaks winner’s effort at The Valley and believes she’ll prove hard to beat in the Underwood, run under weight-for-age conditions.

“It’s a race we’ve had in mind for a little while,” Maher said.

“She’s come through her first run in good order

“She had to go back there, and all the data from the first race was quite good.

“I would have liked to have drawn (10) a fraction better, but she’s in a good spot.”

Maher said dodging Maybe Diva Stakes runners Via Sistina, Mr Brightside, Antino and Aeliana last week was a positive, but the Underwood had still drawn a quality field.

“The elite horses ran last week, but your Buckaroos, Gai’s (Waterhouse) horse Sir Delius and horses like that are going to be hard to beat,” he said.

“We had to take our medicine first-up and slide back.

“Like I said, all the data from the race was all very positive and I think she had the slickest last furlong for the meeting.

“Had she drawn better, she would have finished a helluva lot closer.

“All the signs are very positive and she is bright and well in herself.”

Jamie Melham retains the ride and Zardozi only has to run up to expectations to be in the mix for races like the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2,000m), G1 Might And Power Stakes (2,000m), and possibly the G1 Caulfield Cup over 2,400m next month.

“She’s certainly on that path, depending on how she goes,” Maher said.

“She probably stays on a weight-for-age path for her next run and whether you go to the Caulfield Cup, we’ll have a chat to the (Godolphin) team?

“I think she’s coming up very well and think she’ll run well.

“Our options are quite open; if she ran well we could go to a Caulfield Stakes (Might And Power) and she might back up.

“A lot of horses from the Makybe usually go to the Turnbull, so it (Might And Power) might be a nice race for her.”

Meanwhile, speedy Godolphin five-year-old Austmarr will begin her spring program in The Taggart over 1,200m at Caulfield.

Runner-up in Stakes company at her last two starts in Brisbane before spelling, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained mare has drawn nicely in barrier two for Mark Zahra and has trialled once and jumped out twice in preparation for Saturday.