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Kiwi dup set to tackle Australian hotshot

NZ Racing Desk

Kiwi gallopers The Chosen One and Probabeel tackle Australian hotshot Zaaki in just a five-horse Group I $A1 million Underwood Stakes (1800m) field today at Sandown in Victoria.

For stayer The Chosen One it is the next step in his build-up towards the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained entire is in a field reduced in number because the presence of emerging star Zaaki ($1.30 favourite) was too daunting for many. While not expecting to upset the favourite, Baker, who cannot be in Melbourne due to Covid-19 restrictions, is keen to start in a race that has been good to the stable over the years.

‘‘We’ve won it on four occasions, dating back to The Phantom in 1990 and then more recently with Lion Tamer (2011), Dundeel (2013) and Bonneval (2017),’’ Baker said.

‘‘We’re very happy with The Chosen One. He was good in the Feehan (Group II, 1600m) first-up [when third] and we haven’t done a lot with him.

‘‘He may be looking for 2000m or a bit more now, but we’re bound to have a go.’’

The Underwood Stakes meeting will be hosted at Sandown after a spring carnival reshuffle that will see Caulfield host the Group II Zipping Classic (2400m) meeting at the end of the carnival.

‘‘All of the tracks in Melbourne are good,’’ Baker said. ‘‘It is a nice track Sandown. They all get their chance.

‘‘It is a small field, but it is a very good field. It could be a tactical race.’’

Zaaki aside, rivals include fellow Kiwi Probabeel ($5), Feehan winner Superstorm ($11) and Group I Australian Cup (2000m) winner Fifty Stars ($31), with The Chosen One rated a $19 chance.

Damian Lane will ride the son of Savabeel and Baker suggested he could race forward if required.

‘‘He has ridden him quite a bit off and on and he knows the horse,’’ Baker said.

‘‘He will probably have one more run at Caulfield before the Caulfield Cup in either the Caulfield Stakes (Group I, 2000m) or the Herbert Power (Group II, 2400m).

‘‘He won the Herbert Power two years ago and the positive is he is in the field for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, so we don’t have to push him to qualify.’’

Baker is also pleased with stablemate Quick Thinker, who is stabled with his son Bjorn in Sydney at present and finished second in last week’s Group III Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) under topweight.

‘‘He went really well at Newcastle. He was very unlucky. He just got held up on the bend. Rory Hutchings rode a perfect race on him. He just went around in the trail and they never opened up on the bend and he had to tread water before getting out late,’’ Baker said.

Quick Thinker will run in the Group I Metropolitan (2400m) and Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride.

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2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282205129035350

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