Racing: Zabeat on song for Cup

SYDNEY - Northland trainer Donna Logan believes Zabeat is a top-three chance in the Brisbane Cup.

Zabeat is proven over the 3200m distance, having won the Wellington Cup. The two race favourites, Zingam and Pacific Dancer, have not won over the distance.

While Zabeat's lead-up into the group one A$500,000 ($543,000) feature hasn't been perfect, Logan believes the 5-year-old Rhythm gelding is ready to run a big race.

"His last run [when 14th in the O'Shea Stakes] was a whole lot better than it looked," Logan told NZPA.

"He was three wide the whole trip and at weight-for-age you can't do that. He had also missed two important gallops leading into that race.

"I'm very pleased with him, particularly as he has come out of that race so well. He is definitely ready for two miles and I think he is going as well as he was leading into the Wellington Cup."

Trainers at Eagle Farm on Saturday complained about the hard track, but Logan said if it was the same again it wouldn't worry her.

"The firmer it is the better for him," she said.

Logan said she hadn't discussed tactics with jockey Noel Harris, saying she will wait until they see whether there are any overnight showers.

He certainly won't lack for support tomorrow, with a cheer squad of around 30 flying over at the weekend and no doubt lapping up the $26 price offered by bookmakers for Zabeat.

New Zealand trainers have five runners in the cup, while warmly-fancied Pacific Dancer is New Zealand-owned.

Filante Etoile is the most favoured of the other five and trainer Richard Yuill said yesterday he was very happy with her condition going into the race.

"There is a query over her ability to get the distance, being by Soviet Star, but she has shown she can run a mile and a half, and you don't know until you try," Yuill said.

From Heaven, third in Zabeat's Wellington Cup, Empyreal, to be ridden by top New Zealand jockey Lisa Cropp, and New Zealand Cup winner Waltermitty, are the other Kiwi-trainer runners.

New Zealand trainers haven't claimed a group one win in Australia since Miss Potential won the Nestle Classic in Melbourne in November.

If they are to claim one out of the Brisbane carnival at this late stage, Zabeat and Darci Brahma look to be the best chances.

Darci Brahma was an unlucky fourth in the Queensland Sires' Produce Stakes last weekend and should appreciate the extra 200m in the A$500,000 T J Smith (1600m) for two-year-olds tomorrow.

He has again drawn badly in 12, but if jockey Scott Seamer can get him some cover, he looks a realistic winning chance.

- NZPA