There are now only eleven weeks to go until the 2024 Melbourne Cup live.
After profiling Crystal Black last time, we’re looking closely at another potential contender. This time, young Godolphin filly Zardozi is under the spotlight.
Zardozi’s Profile
Only just turned four officially is Zardozi, a filly by the outstanding Kingman.
Out of a Dubawi mare, she is very well bred but going strictly by pedigree you wouldn’t call her a stayer. Part of her charm however is her determined attitude. She has already won over 1300 metres in fact and further improvement over longer distances is on the cards.
This is a filly with real class. She landed the Kennedy Oaks around Flemington back in November at Group 1 level, before adding the Group 2 Phar Lap at Rosehill in March.
That was a good warm-up for her Vinery Stud Stakes attempt in which she was only beaten by 1½ lengths behind Orchestral under Tom Marquand.
The English jockey was again aboard when she took on the Australian Oaks at Randwick in April. Another very fine effort came, this time in a half-length defeat.
Save for one under-par effort in early March, her profile is one of a constantly improving filly. Having been beaten in her last two big events, albeit narrowly, you might argue that improvement has now stopped. However, at this age the break will have done her good and she can continue on an upward curve when she returns to the track.
Owner and Trainer a Striking Combo
Godolphin of course have long had their Australian runners with trainer James Cummings.
The boys in blue are very motivated to win the Melbourne Cup once again, something they last did with Cross Counter in 2018.
That winner was trained by Charlie Appleby in England, main trainer for the ‘Boys in Blue’. It remains to be seen whether he and other British-based trainers will be back this year. Intrusive vet checks have stopped him in recent years, though things may be different this time around.
Godolphin will have a few contenders for the Cup this year, with James Cummings looking to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps.
The great Bart Cummings is synonymous with the Melbourne Cup and now James is looking to win it too. Winning a Group 1 race over 3200 metres may not be in Zardozi’s pedigree, but it is certainly in the James’.
Zardozi’s Place in the Market
The heritage is all there with this horse and so is most of the form. Where does that place her in the 2024 Melbourne Cup odds?
Well, major worldwide bookies have the filly available at a general $26.00. That’s not particularly high given how many horses are potentially still involved. Another win for Zardozi and/or some important contenders dropping out would mean a major contraction of this price.
