Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Mark Zahra will make his New Zealand riding debut when joining a starry line-up of Australian jockeys attending the TAB Karaka Millions meeting on Saturday at Ellerslie.
Zahra has been a strong presence in the Melbourne jockey room for several years and shone in the most recent editions of the iconic 3200m Flemington feature aboard on Gold Trip (2022) and Without A Fight (2023).
With fellow Australian-based riders Blake Shinn, James McDonald and Robbie Dolan making the trip across the Tasman for the rich meeting, Zahra accepted an offer by Mike Moroney to partner his two Karaka Million hopes in Savaglee and Pendragon.
“Mike Moroney offered him a couple of rides in the $1 million races, and as we didn’t have a ride in the Australia Stakes (Gr.2, 1200m at Moonee Valley), it looked a good opportunity with such good prizemoney,” Zahra’s manager Reece Murphy told Racing.com.
Savaglee, who Melbourne-based Moroney prepares in partnership with Pam Gerard, was an impressive four-length victor on debut in October, and worked hard as pacemaker in his next two starts, most recently when finishing third behind Cool ’N’ Fast and Full Force.
Zahra will partner the son of Savabeel in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), while stablemate Pendragon is poised to strike in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), with a hat-trick of recent victories topped by the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) last-start.
Completing Zahra’s trio of rides will be Sharp ‘N’ Smart, the three-time Group One winner returning to form last-start after an interrupted spring preparation. The Redwood gelding finished a bold third behind Legarto at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, with the classy pair set to meet again in the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) on Saturday.