Spring ambitions kick-off at Sandown for Zambardo

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable holds considerable expectations for Zambardo, while also conceding the horse must reach new heights.

With nominations for both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, Zambardo commences his campaign in the So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Sandown on Saturday.

Zambardo is a lightly raced gelding from New Zealand who has accumulated four wins from his twelve starts.

The five-year-old arrived from New Zealand without a win, breaking his maiden status at his second start for Price and Kent Jnr on the Pakenham synthetic over 1600m, before stringing together successive victories at Sale, Sandown, and Caulfield.

That last win was in a 2000m benchmark 78 race during the middle day of the Caulfield Cup Carnival.

Taking a significant step, Price and Kent Jnr entered Zambardo into the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on the final day of Melbourne Cup week, where the gelding finished behind the outstanding mare Via Sistina.

The handicapper reacted strongly to Zambardo's performance in that race, which secured connections $540,000, elevating his rating from a 78-rater to 103.

This adjustment meant Zambardo would be too highly weighted for easier races and would be required to race in higher grades, a path he followed during the autumn, beginning in Sydney before moving to Brisbane.

Price and Kent Jnr still aim to contest 'some nice races' with the gelding this spring.

"We're keen to be ambitious with him, until proven otherwise," Kent Jnr explained.

"The Cox Plate will certainly be considered, but he has to prove he is at that level.

"His form went a bit sideways last preparation, for a variety of reasons. He was getting a long way back, he had bad barriers, that Q22 was a funny race, they went no gallop and it wasn't a test of anyone's ability.

"I think we judge the horse on his first couple of runs back here in Melbourne, but what I can say, he is flying, going particularly well."

Given that this year's Cox Plate is being held at Flemington while Moonee Valley undergoes renovations, Kent Jnr is enthusiastic about Zambardo's season opener at Sandown.

"I think that is one of the keys to him as he's raced there before and I think he will enjoy being back Sandown," Kent Jnr added.

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