Zardozi is set to make her return to Flemington, the scene of her Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) victory last year, when she competes in Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Trained by James Cummings, the four-year-old will make her sixth start of the season after placing second in the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick and fourth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in her latest outings.
“Her run in The Metropolitan was outstanding against Land Legend,” Cummings told Racing.com.
“Her fourth in the Caulfield Cup wasn’t as good as I hoped, but she still beat most of the field home. It was a gallant fourth in her first look around Caulfield.
“I would imagine that [her] form is going to read a lot better at Flemington.
“She’s a better horse at Flemington than Randwick and she’s probably a better horse at Flemington than Caulfield.”
Cummings is confident Zardozi’s Melbourne Cup prospects are strong, particularly with Andrea Atzeni set to ride her at 51 kilograms.
“There’s a lot to be said for getting her back to the scene where she was an exhilarating winner of the VRC Oaks 12 months ago.
“She’s got the turn of foot that Melbourne Cup winners in more recent years have needed to win the race.”
Zardozi is currently rated a $23 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the Melbourne Cup.
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