THE PETLEY REPORT: ZAAKI RETURNS A POSITIVE SWAB FROM FOUR RUNS AGO IN THE JRA PLATE

By Jack Petley | Friday, June 18, 2021

Star stayer Zaaki has lost his placing behind Paths of Glory in the JRA Plate after he returned a positive swab after the race and thus Hang Man and Polly Grey have been promoted. Zaaki’s trainer, Anabelle Neasham fined $7000 with the highly successful trainer of the season vowing to look closely at her stable procedures. Zaaki, of course, then went on to become a star stayer of the Brisbane carnival. I gather that stewards took into account Neasham pleading guilty and co-operating with stewards.

That winning run by the great stayer Stradivarius in England ended overnight when he failed to win the Gold Cup for the fourth time, after he had met trouble in the running and could only finish fourth. "I ran into a pocket turning for home," said his rider Frankie Dettori." When you get stopped in a two-and-a-half mile race it is hard to get going again. The winner is good, but I would like to have another shot."

That winner was Subjectivist, trained by Mark Johnston who saddled his fourth Gold Cup winner. Subjectivist had five lengths over the runner up Princess Zoe with Spanish Mission third and the unlucky 5-6 hot favourite Stradivarius next. Johnson has earlier won the Cup with Double Trigger and Royal rebel (twice).

Other big race winners overnight at the great Royal Ascot meeting … Mohaafeth continued his wonderful run of form when taking out the Hampton Court Stakes The win was a success for trainer William Haggas who withdrew the colt from the Derby after rain affected the track and for the last 24 hours before this event he prayed for the rain to stay away, which it did, but the track tonight, I gather will be rain affected. The colt is now at 8-1 for the Eclipse but Haggas said he would need good ground to tackle that event.

Racing tonight sees Aidan O'Brien with a strong hold on the Coronation Stakes with Mother Earth and Empress Josephine. Mother Earth is the favourite just ahead of her stablemate. She wasn't that far off landing the British-French 1000 Guineas double and she looks the best prospect. Ryan Moore takes the mount while one runner being closely watched in the market is the Joseph O'Brien filly Pretty Georgeous (9-2), the mount of Frankie Dettori. She was an unlucky runner in the Irish Guineas won by Empress Josephine.

The US filly, Campanelle (Frankie Dettori), is the favourite in the Commonwealth Cup at 9-2 with Dettori to ride for Wesley Ward, who has a great record in the event. Suesa (William Buick), is next at 9/2, then Dragon Symbol, 13-2, and Supremacy. Campanelle is 3 from 3 over short journeys for Ward and heads here with a win in the 2020 Queen Mary. Suesa will be a formidable rival who is unbeaten in four in France while Dragon Symbol, I am told, is an improving sprinter.

In the other major for the night Flotus is favourite for the Albany Stakes at 3-1 with Dettori up and then Hello You, 9-2, Prettiest, 5-1 and Cachet, 15-1. Flotus won so well last time at Goodwood and is rated highly while Cachet scored decisively at Newmarket on debut and has thrived since then from all reports.