Zebulon suffered a surprise defeat in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 12, but trainer Peter Morgan remains confident that the talented colt is good enough to contest the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Zebulon has been set for the Caulfield Guineas that will be run at Caulfield on October 11. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Zebulon made his racing debut with a second place finish behind Zeletto in The Park Hotel Plate (1010m) at Werribee on June 15 before stamping himself as horse to watch with a fast-finishing victory over Profit Share and Allergic in the Murray Cox Handicap (1410m) at Flemington on June 28.
The All American colt was very well-backed heading into the Taj Rossi Series Final, but was caught wide all the way and was set a difficult task by jockey Glen Boss coming into the straight before tiring in the final stages to finish third.
Morgan admitted that he was disappointed that Zebulon was unable to record victory in the Taj Rossi Series Final, but he confirmed that the rising three-year-old had returned to work after a couple of weeks in the spelling paddock and is on track to contest the Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield on October 11.
“Zebulon is back in work and he is coming along nicely,” Morgan said,
“The goal for him at this stage is the Guineas and I think that he is up to it.
“It is a good chance that he is probably my best horse at this stage.
“He certainly gives us good vibes that is for sure.
“He just does everything right; he is a colt and he doesn’t act like a colt.
“He is a very generous and kind horse and he has done everything that we ask of him.
“He was pretty unlucky at his last run, which has been documented a fair bit and I think he should have won and won easily.”
Morgan has not had a runner in the Caulfield Guineas since Seriously Good was unable to finish the race in 2010 and is chasing a Group 1 victory after having black type success with Eloping in the Group 3 Royal Randwick Stakes (1200m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Zebulon is currently available at 2014 Caulfield Guineas odds of $21 in the betting market at Ladbrokes Australia; with J.J. Atkins winner Almalad ($9) a narrow favourite from Chivalry ($11), Looks Like The Cat ($11) and Meursault ($11).
