Zaaki, Converge head Tramway Stakes nominations

Zaaki will commence his 2022 Cox Plate (2040m) campaign the same way he started last year when he lines up in Saturday’s Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

The Annabel Neasham-trained eight-year-old opened as a +130 favourite with Bovada for the Group 2 event.

Of the 14 nominations for the race, seven are Group 1 winners, including Converge, Profondo and Nimalee.

While Zaaki is all the rage early, he does hold a nomination for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley, which is being touted as a backup option in case Randwick is too wet on Saturday.

Zaaki has not raced since his shock defeat in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in May, but his trainer has given him two barrier trials and a course-proper gallop in order to knock some of the freshness out of him in preparation for his first-up task.

Standing in his way is multiple Group 1 winner Converge, who has also had two eye-catching barrier trials.

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott runner was way too classy for Anamoe in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) earlier in the year, and a repeat of that performance will see him more than competitive on Saturday.

Four-year-old Profondo is also among the nominations, but he is more than likely going to run in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) instead, where he tops the betting at +250 following his first-up third in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m).

The Chelmsford has attracted 15 runners, including Group 1 winners Montefilia and Mo’unga, while a number of Caulfield Cup (2400m) hopefuls including Numerian, Surefire, Stockman, Crystal Pegasus and Benaud are also expected to line up in the Group 2 event at Randwick.

Of the last 10 editions of the Chelmsford, Chris Waller and John O’Shea have won eight between them. This year Waller has a third of the field, while O’Shea will start just one runner in Benaud, who was impressive in the Winx Stakes when first-up.

The second leg of the Princess Series will also be run at Randwick this Saturday, with James Cummings’ In Secret (+250) topping the betting after an unlucky second in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) first-up.

The Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) has attracted 24 nominations as the three-year-old fillies look to add valuable black-type credentials to their resumes.

Despite winning the first leg of the series, Zougotcha is an +700 chance to make it two from two this preparation, with Paris Dior sharing the second line of betting with Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) winner She’s Extreme at +400.

North Star Lass is a +800 show after running third in the Silver Shadow, with Wolverine and Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) winner Sheeza Belter at +1200 each.

Acceptances for Randwick close at 9am AEST on Wednesday, August 31.