Zakouma gears up for Melbourne Cup in Herbert Power Stakes

The upcoming Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield is set to serve as Zakouma's final preparatory run before his target, the Melbourne Cup.

Trainer Grahame Begg has pinpointed the Herbert Power Stakes, a 2400m race on Saturday, as the crucial lead-up for the stayer ahead of the 3200m Flemington showpiece on November 3.

Zakouma earned his spot in the Melbourne Cup through a ballot exemption, courtesy of his commanding victory in The Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in May.

This exemption has granted Begg the valuable option to select races that align with his training plan, rather than being forced into races purely for qualification.

Since his triumph in The Andrew Ramsden in May, Zakouma has had two starts at Caulfield. He finished sixth in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m), making up ground from the rear, and subsequently finished sixth again in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) on September 19.

Begg expressed his contentment with both recent performances, though he acknowledged that the distances were somewhat short of the gelding's optimal range.

He also noted that the tighter confines of the Caulfield track are not as advantageous for Zakouma as the more spacious Flemington circuit.

To prepare him, Begg brought Zakouma to Caulfield on Tuesday for a gallop on favourable ground, providing a change of environment from his Cranbourne base.

"His work has been very sharp and he's going well," Begg commented.

"Caulfield is not really his track, and we are happy that he's not running in the Caulfield Cup, but Saturday's race fits in nicely towards the Melbourne Cup."

"The Moonee Valley Cup is there (as a back-up), but I've consciously factored in just the one mile-and-a-half race."

"There are races there as you just never know what could happen."

Zakouma's progression from 2000m to 2800m for his Andrew Ramsden victory means Begg is confident the step up from Saturday's 2400m to the 3200m Melbourne Cup distance, with a three-and-a-half-week interval, will not be an issue.

"He went a month between runs before he won the Andrew Ramsden and went the 2800 metres without any worries," Begg affirmed.

"We're very conscious that it is a bit of a balancing act."

"We don't want to over-race him, and we want to keep the run in his legs, a bit of freshness, but he is a very clean-winded horse."

"We'll see what he does on Saturday and then keep adjusting his work accordingly."

Zakouma is scheduled for his pre-Melbourne Cup veterinary assessments next Wednesday. Once these are completed, Begg can focus his attention on saddling his first Melbourne Cup runner.

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