Price circles Flemington 2000m as Zambardo chases Cox Plate dream

Two Group 1 2000m races at Flemington are in the sights of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable with Zambardo.

The Cox Plate, which this year transfers from Moonee Valley due to the rebuild, on October 24 and the Champions Stakes, two weeks later, are races Price has a big circle around.

Zambardo chased home Via Sistina in last year’s Champions Stakes during Melbourne Cup week at his only run at Flemington.

The gelding had an autumn and winter campaign in Sydney and Brisbane which Price said was underwhelming.

After midfield finishes at Randwick and Gosford, Zambardo got on his preferred wet ground at Rosehill when second in the Lord Mayors Cup before venturing further afield to Brisbane.

Lining up in the Q22 at Eagle Farm, Zambardo was not suited by the slow pace, beating just two runners home.

After a break in the warmer Queensland climate, Zambardo resumed with a first-up third over 1500m at Sandown on September 5, and now he heads to Caulfield on Sunday to progress his Cox Plate claims in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m).

Price said the Zambardo then heads to the ‘Globe Stakes’ (the Might And Power) at Caulfield on October 10 and onto the Cox Plate.

“He was great first-up,” Price said.

“It was what I expected off his trial after his little winter sojourn wasn’t so successful.

“I’m putting a circle around the 2000 metres at Flemington where he will be very well suited, especially if he gets his toe in the ground.

“He might not be good enough, but I don’t think it will be a huge field, and there are no internationals coming.

“One thing is, he’ll be cherry on the day.”

Small fields in the Feehan have been the order of the day in past seasons with Pride Of Jenni running her rivals ragged in the past two editions.

Pride Of Jenni lines up again on Sunday with just five rivals, including Mr Brightside and Treasurethe Moment who have run second to the mare in the past two editions.