Victorian trainer Grahame Begg has kept the door ajar on the Stradbroke with the sometimes frustrating King Zephyr, who makes his Queensland debut in the Spear Chief Quality at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Stradbroke has been a long-time target for King Zephyr, but a run of placings rather than wins, have him on the outside looking in on the field for Queensland’s biggest race.
“There was a pay up the other day [for the Stradbroke] and we decided to make it and just see what happens,” Begg said. “Just in case he gets in, somehow.
“He would need to win on Saturday and get a penalty to get into the Stradbroke, but there are other races for him up there.
“The big thing for him was getting a trip away, which is going to help become the horse he has promised to be.
”He has been well found by punters and everyone seems to know when he gets beaten, but he is a good horse.”
King Zephyr has taken a familiar place as a $2.50 favourite for the 1500m Listed affair, even though he will get back and get need luck.
”He needs a big track, that’s why we waited for the races to get to Eagle Farm before taking him up there and he is ready to win again,” Begg said.
“If you look in Melbourne, he has won at Sandown and Flemington where he gets his chance to get home.
“We know what to expect in the run, and it comes down if he can run them down.”
Begg will also have Parvenu in the Queensland Oaks, who he believes will stay and is hoping for a bit more speed than there was in the lead-up, The Roses.
“We learned nothing from The Roses because they walked and sprinted home,” Begg said. “She finished where you would think, given that sort of set-up [when running into fifth late].
“She will stay and if they run along that will give her her best chance.”
