2025 The Straight Six at Flemington awaits King Zephyr

Grahame Begg is giving promising galloper King Zephyr his first taste of Stakes company as the gelding steps out in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.

With five wins from six starts and nearly $145,000 in earnings, King Zephyr is climbing the ladder with purpose and could be heading to the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) if he delivers again this weekend.

Begg has deliberately chosen this race to assess the gelding’s credentials for Brisbane’s winter carnival.

“I’ve had this race earmarked for some time,” Begg said.

“We thought if the horse is to go to Queensland, he will need to get quite a significant ratings boost especially if you are thinking of a Stradbroke, or something like that.

“He’s still unexposed to a higher grade of horse, but this would give us that opportunity if could get the job done on Saturday to boost his rating and maybe get into the Stradbroke.

“If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. We can pull the pin, don’t go to Queensland and may be even have a look around for something else.”

Despite being rated 82, King Zephyr shares the handicap with several higher-rated horses due to the presence of Lim’s Kosciuszko at the top of the weights.

Begg is also mindful that the gelding is dropping back from 1400m to 1200m and will be trying the straight course for the first time.

“We don’t know about him down the straight, so that will be a new challenge, and he is back to 1200 metres, but he is three weeks between runs,” Begg said.

“He’s had a nice bit of down time and has freshened up well, but we feel Flemington will suit him and he is an adaptable horse as nothing seems to worry him.

“There may be up to 10 mils of rain on the day, so it might be similar conditions to what he raced on last time and that didn’t bother him.

“If it is a little worse, the breed, the Hallowed Crown’s, they do seem to handle the ground, but you don’t know until you try them on it, but I think he will be OK.”

For fans of King Zephyr or the Stradbroke Handicap trail, don’t miss the markets available on the top betting sites ahead of the Straight Six.