Zakouma's road to the Cups is on track

Trainer Grahame Begg is feeling more at ease with Zakouma now qualified for a Caulfield Cup lead-up event.

The six-year-old gelding was initially listed as the second emergency for Saturday's Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield, but two horses being scratched has allowed him to gain a start.

With a ballot exemption already secured for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3, Begg has strategically planned backwards from that target to ensure Zakouma is in prime condition.

Zakouma's preparation began with a spell and a return in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield last month, where he finished a creditable sixth. Begg's plan involves just two more outings before the gelding competes at Flemington.

Should Zakouma triumph on Saturday, he will earn a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) scheduled for October 17. If not, his next engagement will be the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) on October 10.

It's worth noting that last year's Naturalism Stakes victor, Half Yours, also entered the race as an emergency and went on to win both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.

If Zakouma had missed a start in Saturday's race, Begg's alternative course of action was to enter him in the JRA Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on September 26.

"Whatever way it worked out, his next run was going to be at 2000 metres, then one run at 2400 metres and then it's straight into the (Melbourne) Cup," Begg explained.

"If he won the Naturalism, he would go to the Caulfield Cup.

"It's worth $6 million, so why not, but if he doesn't win the Naturalism, he will go to the Herbert Power and then straight into the Melbourne Cup."

Zakouma carries 51kg for the Caulfield Cup and is positioned 70th in the ballot order. A win on Saturday will secure his spot, while in the Melbourne Cup, he has been allocated 52kg and benefits from a ballot exemption due to his success in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington back in May.

The team associated with Begg expressed satisfaction with Zakouma's initial run this campaign. He came from near the tail of the field before the home turn to finish sixth, finishing just over four lengths off the winner, Kingswood.

According to Begg, the horse has shown improvement since that initial outing.

"He's got great lung capacity. His recovery is unbelievable," Begg commented.

"He has come on a lot since his first-up run. His coat is still not there, still a bit woolly, but it's starting to shift and another run will bring that along."

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