The out of luck Zoutori needs thing to go his way if he is to turn his form around in the Group 2 $250,000 Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas (1600m) at Ladbrokes Park at Sandown on Saturday.
Seabrook, above in red colours, is the only filly in the Sandown Guineas field at Sandown. Photo by Photo by Steve Hart.
Zoutori broke through for his maiden win at Kyneton three starts back but then has run into trouble at his next two starts at Caulfield and Flemington.
Co-trainer Simon Zahra, who trains in partnership with Mat Ellerton, explains that Zoutori was hampered by a riderless horse when fourth to Ranier in the Listed $120,000 Polytrack Gothic Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 20 and then got caught up in traffic off a slow pace when fifth to the same horse in the Group 3 $200,000 The Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 3.
“He has just had no joy. He’s going well but he just needs some luck,” Zahra told Racenet.
“The race was all over by the time he got out in the Carbine Club and they just walked in front. We were back inside them and he did well to get going and get as close as he did. I thought it was a terrific run.
“The riderless horse annoyed him at Caulfield and he ran away from it in the straight so he hasn’t had things go his way in his last two runs.”
Zahra said that Zoutori is well in himself and with a little bit of luck can figure in the finish in the Sandown Guineas.
“We couldn’t be happier with the way he’s going but not much has gone right for him in his last couple of runs,” Zahra said.
“It’s not a big field but he just needs to have a bit of room and a bit of luck at the right time and we think he’ll be around the mark at the finish.”
Zoutori has drawn the inside barrier with Damian Lane sticking with the Zoustar three year old who is marked at $11 for the Sandown Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Darren Weir trained Ringerdingding has been installed the $3 favourite and will be backing up week to week after winning the Listed $150,000 Springtime Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last Saturday.
On the second line of betting is the Mick Price trained Seabrook who is dropping back to three year old company after finishing sixth against the older mares in the Group 1 $500,000 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 3.
