Zeus out for Flemington first

McArdle noted the upcoming rematch with Jimmy The Bear may hinge on track conditions or barrier placement.

“He had the pull in the weights on us that day. But it’s interesting, Harry (Coffey) thought if the rail had of been on, that might have been the difference in the margin. He handles give in the ground, but he’s better on top of it, so hopefully the rain will stay away.”

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Consistent campaigner Regal Zeus is making a third trip to Flemington this Saturday, lining up in The David Bourke (1620m) for trainer John McArdle.

The gelding previously completed ninth in July and fourth over 1600m on May 17, and his form has been stellar—he’s been in the top two in ten of his last thirteen starts.

“Flemington is probably not his track,” McArdle said. “He ran fourth there a couple of starts ago and he’s probably better off at Caulfield or The Valley, but that’s where the race is, so that’s where we’ll go. The horse is in really good order. It will be three weeks between runs and if he runs well in that, then he presses on to the final two weeks later.”

The David Bourke doubles as a heat for the VRC-CRV Winter Championship, with its final over 1600m set for July 5 at Flemington.

McArdle reflected on Regal Zeus’s performance in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m), a race where Pride Of Jenni dictated terms.

“He controls the speed in most races, but against a horse the calibre of her he couldn’t,” he said. “Whilst the plan of attack was to come back and sit off her, he didn’t want to do that, and he just raced out of his comfort zone. He still ran fifth and was a bit soft late, but he did all the chasing, and he’s bounced back, both at Flemington and at Caulfield last start.”

McArdle also flagged the rematch with Jimmy The Bear could look different depending on the track profile.

“He had the pull in the weights on us that day. But it’s interesting, Harry (Coffey) thought if the rail had of been on, that might have been the difference in the margin. He handles give in the ground, but he’s better on top of it, so hopefully the rain will stay away.”

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