Mark Zahra is determined to claim Group 1 success in Perth this weekend after falling short in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
Zahra rode Democracy Manifest in the feature race, with the Chris Waller-trained gelding finishing 14th, just four lengths off the winner.
Now, Democracy Manifest will take on Saturday’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot.
“He’s not the best horse away, so I ended up in a position where I was back. I got onto the back of Light Infantry Man, but he didn’t get a massive crack at them either, “Zahra told TabTouch Radio.
“He wasn’t fully tested, so I went to the line with something in hand.
“We were under no illusion before the race, drawn terribly, but as long as he hit the line strong, we wanted a horse in two weeks’ time as well.
“When I got off him, I said, ‘Right, I’m happy to come back and amend for that.’”
Scheduled to ride in Hong Kong this weekend, Zahra slightly changed his plans to reunite with Democracy Manifest for another shot at Group 1 honours.
“I wasn’t booked to ride him because I was going earlier this week, but he went pretty good and I thought I have to come back.
I was keen to put myself back in, and the 1800 metres will suit him better.
“Hopefully, we can get the money this time”
2024 Northerly Stakes field
1. Numerian (9)
- T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
- J: Clint Johnston-Porter
- W: 59kg
- F: 8×901
- Age: 9YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Holy Roman Emperor (IRE)
- Dam: Delicate Charm (IRE)
+450
2. Attrition (5)
- T: Mitchell Freedman
- J: Beau Mertens
- W: 59kg
- F: 41472
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Churchill (IRE)
- Dam: Queen’s Kiss
-111.11
3. Bustler (3)
- T: Neville Parnham
- J: Brad Parnham
- W: 59kg
- F: 020×0
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Playing God
- Dam: Cosmah Domination
+550
4. Casino Seventeen (17)
- T: Grant & Alana Williams
- J: Jarrod Noske
- W: 59kg
- F: 01×68
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Casino Prince
- Dam: Tikal
+450
5. Light Infantry Man (15)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Ethan Brown
- W: 59kg
- F: 01796
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Fast Company (IRE)
- Dam: Lights On Me (GB)
+170
6. Marocchino (13)
- T: Lou Luciani
- J: Jason Whiting
- W: 59kg
- F: 78×24
- Age: 8YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Maschino
- Dam: Comesitbesideme
+2000
7. Democracy Manifest (2)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 59kg
- F: 03804
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Flying Artie
- Dam: Slippery Satin
+140
8. Let’s Galahvant (14)
- T: Daniel & Ben Pearce
- J: Shaun McGruddy
- W: 59kg
- F: 587×3
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Galah
- Dam: Secret Crush
+450
9. Mojo Rhythm (10)
- T: Mitchell Pateman
- J: Patrick Carbery
- W: 59kg
- F: 6190x
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Playing God
- Dam: Saddle Me Up
+1000
10. River Rubicon (12)
- T: Steve Wolfe
- J: Joseph Azzopardi
- W: 59kg
- F: 80932
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Rubick
- Dam: Woodala
+2000
11. Currimundi (18)
- T: Steve Wolfe
- J: Jordan Turner
- W: 59kg
- F: 54200
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Playing God
- Dam: Pins Perhaps (NZ)
+2000
12. Zipaway (4)
- T: Neville Parnham
- J: Steven Parnham
- W: 58.5kg
- F: 94×30
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Playing God
- Dam: Boutique
+320
13. Admiration Express (11)
- T: Jason Miller
- J: Lucy Fiore
- W: 57kg
- F: 80312
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Grey
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: My Admiration
- Dam: Comme Ci
+2000
14. Super Smink (6)
- T: Daniel Morton
- J: Chris Parnham
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 3123x
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Super One
- Dam: Sminky Shorts
+160
15. Socks Nation (8)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Declan Bates
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 030×1
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Sioux Nation
- Dam: Tahnee Tiara
+260
16. Storyville (1)
- T: Grant & Alana Williams
- J: William Pike
- W: 50kg
- F: 11851
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Overshare
- Dam: New Orleans
-105.26
17. Russian To The Bar (16)
- T: Luke Fernie
- J: TBC
- W: 58.5kg
- F: 369×0
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Russian Revolution
- Dam: Rosie Rocket
+5000
18. Flower Of Gold (7)
- T: Simon Miller
- J: TBC
- W: 50kg
- F: 43311
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Bull Point
- Dam: Indian Flower
+700
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