Zabiari's blinker switch for Winter Challenge prospects

The Ciaron Maher stable is hoping that the introduction of blinkers will assist French import Zabiari in rediscovering his best overseas form as he prepares for the final stakes event of the Sydney racing season.

Zabiari, a dual Group 3 winner over a mile in France, made his Australian debut in the Civic Stakes (1400m) last month, finishing in the middle of the field.

He has since participated in a trial to keep him race-ready, and according to Maher's assistant trainer, Jo Gerard-Dubord, the gear change has yielded positive results during trackwork, with expectations that this will translate to the races.

"He's still an entire and he's very casual," Gerard-Dubord explained. "The best of his trials here was the one with the blinkers on. He's a lot sharper in them at home and on his best, he is certainly up to a race like this. Now he's had the run here, blinkers going on, we want to see something from him."

Gerard-Dubord, who possesses firsthand knowledge of Zabiari's European form having begun his career in the French racing scene before moving to Australia, believes the horse has the potential for this level of competition. Beyond his Group wins at Longchamp and Chantilly, Zabiari secured placings twice at Listed level in Deauville during his 12 starts abroad, and any rain encountered on Saturday would not negatively impact his chances in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.

Maher has also nominated Eliyass, a recent addition to his stable, but will hold off on a decision based on the weather and potential scratchings.

The horse started his Australian career with a bang, winning his first three races in the spring of 2024, before his form subsequently declined.

After undergoing fetlock surgery and a stable transfer following a ninth-place finish in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) last year, Eliyass struggled in the Civic Stakes (1400m) first-up. Gerard-Dubord anticipates that he will require further racing to regain his top condition.

"He was wide with no cover, and raced a bit fresh, so to the eye it probably looked plain, but it was just a starting point," Gerard-Dubord commented. "He's improved since, but he'll take a couple of runs until he gets back to his best. We'll probably work towards the Premier's Cup Prelude. He's a horse we need to have right for the spring, and it's just finding the best path leading into it."

The Winter Challenge has attracted a full field, led by the Winter Stakes trifecta trio of General Salute, McHale, and Midnight Dynamite, as well as the resurgent seven-year-old War Eternal, who has secured three victories in his last four Queensland starts.

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