Straight track specialist Zoutori lowered the colours of Everest contenders Tofane and Santa Ana Lane when he won the Gilgai Stakes narrowly for Jamie Kah.
Zoutori Lowers Colours Of Star Sprinters
Although Zoutori conquered two star sprinters who are heading to The Everest in his Gilgai Stakes win, co-trainer Mat Ellerton suggested even if a slot became available they would bypass it.
Zoutori relegated luckless All Aged Stakes winner Tofane to fifth and last year’s Everest second placegetter Santa Ana Lane to sixth with his narrow win.
Both Tofane and Santa Ana Lane will have their next runs in The Everest at Randwick on October 17.
Ellerton said Zoutori didn’t handle the right-handed way of going earlier in his career when he raced in Brisbane so he wasn’t keen to try him again in that direction .
“I think we’re being realistic and we’ll plot a course at home,” Ellerton said.
Ellerton said it was a big effort from Zoutori as he wasn’t well off at the weights.
The stable is considering pushing him out to 1600 metres this spring and aiming him at the Cantala Stakes at Flemington on October 31.
Zoutori’s Gilgai Stakes victory again underlined his preference for the straight track at Flemington where he has now won three races over 1200 metres in the past 13 months, including his last two starts.
Zoutori was ridden by Jamie Kah who was impressed by his fight.
“There were some nice horses around and they made it difficult for him. He was very strong and determined late,” Kah said.
Zoutori ($5.50) defeated Dollar For Dollar ($7.50) by a half-head with Kemalpasa ($21) a short-head away third.
Tofane finished fifth and her rider Damien Oliver said she was unlucky.
“She just didn’t get a run and (if she had) she would have been right with the winners and placegetters if she’d had some luck,” Oliver said.
Mark Zahra said the track was too firm for Santa Ana Lane, who wanted to lay in during the race.