Mark Zahra rides Sholas to victory in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes (Image: Racing Photos)
Mark Zahra’s brilliant start to the spring rolled on at The Valley where the in-form jockey notched his second consecutive Saturday double, this time with a pair of impressive Stakes winners.
Zahra rode a treble at Caulfield last Saturday, including the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) on Merchant Navy, and followed up at The Valley with wins aboard Russian Revolution in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) and Shoals in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m).
He combined with trainer Anthony Freedman for the latter victory aboard the daughter of Fastnet Rock, who maintained her unblemished four-race record with a strong win over on-pacer Blondie and the fast-finishing She’s So High.
WATCH: Shoals win at The Valley
While he was impressed with the manner in which Shoals has returned to the racetrack this campaign – he was aboard the filly when she won the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Stakes (1200m) and the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old - Zahra has no doubt there is considerable improvement to come this preparation.
“I wouldn’t say she’s doing it half hearted but every time she gets to the front, she just pricks her ears and she doesn’t put them away,” Zahra said.
“She’s doing it pretty easy but I reckon if something challenged her she would’ve found a lot more today.
“If you see her coat, you’ll know she’s got a bit to go because she’s a bit burly as well, but we were able to get a soft enough run on the speed and coming to the bend I didn’t think there was any way we’d get beaten.”
Freedman confirmed Shoals would next step out in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on October 1 before connections make a call on whether she steps up to a mile for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
WATCH: Russian Revolution fire up at The Valley
While he was unbeaten as a two-year-old and captured the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) as a three-year-old, Snowden said Russian Revolution had made significant mental progression since his last campaign.
Where his pre-race manners had let him down in several starts last preparations, the trainer is confident Russian Revolution will handle the big atmosphere and pressure of feature races this spring, including the Moir Stakes, The Everest and the Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 11.
“He jumped well and put himself there which was always the pre-race plan to be up on the speed,” he said.
“His pre-race manners have let him down in the past so we really centred on that in the last couple of preparations and he’s a lot older now so it was really pleasing to see him get to the gates the way that he did because it helps him perform a lot better.”
The Snowden camp could have up to three horses in The Everest with last-start Concorde Stakes (1000m) winner Redzel and Golden Rose-bound colt Pariah also on the radar of slot holders.
After racing wide without cover, Queensland filly Houtzen fought doggedly to hold third place, narrowly edging out last-start Carlyon Stakes winner Missrock who showed her customary turn of speed.
CrownBet slashed Russian Revolution’s all-in quote for The Everest to $13, while Houtzen eased slightly to $15.