Blinkers the key as Maher looks to unlock French import Zabiari

The Ciaron Maher stable is banking on the addition of blinkers helping French import Zabiari recapture his overseas from when he takes his place in the final stakes race of the Sydney season.

A dual Group 3 winner over a mile in France, Zabiari made his local debut in the Civic Stakes (1400m) last month, finishing midfield.

He’s had a subsequent trial to keep him up to the mark and Maher’s assistant trainer, Jo Gerard-Dubord, says the gear change has had the desired effect at home, and connections hope that will translate to race day.

“He’s still an entire and he’s very casual,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“The best of his trials here was the one with the blinkers on. He’s a lot sharper in them at home and on his best, he is certainly up to a race like this.

“Now he’s had the run here, blinkers going on, we want to see something from him.”

If anybody is equipped to assess Zabiari’s European form it’s the French-born Gerard-Dubord, who cut in his teeth in his home country’s racing industry before coming to Australia.

Along with Group wins at Longchamp and Chantilly, Zabiari has been twice placed in Listed grade at Deauville during his 12 overseas starts, and any rain won’t harm his chances in Saturday’s Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.

Maher has also accepted with recent stable addition Eliyass but will keep an eye on the weather and scratchings before determining if he runs.

The horse hit the ground running to win his first three Australian starts during the spring of 2024 before his form tapered off.

Undergoing fetlock surgery and a stable change after finishing ninth in last year’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), Eliyass was well beaten in the Civic Stakes (1400m) first-up, and Gerard-Dubord expected him to again need the hit-out.

“He was wide with no cover, and raced a bit fresh, so to the eye it probably looked plain, but it was just a starting point,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“He’s improved since, but he’ll take a couple of runs until he gets back to his best.

“We’ll probably work towards the Premier’s Cup Prelude. He’s a horse we need to have right for the spring, and it’s just finding the best path leading into it.”

The Winter Challenge has attracted a full field headed by the Winter Stakes trifecta of General Salute, McHale and Midnight Dynamite along with rejuvenated seven-year-old War Eternal, who has won three of his past four starts in Queensland.