THE highly rated Zugulu turned in another impressive performance to win the ninth running of the $1 million Coca-Cola Juvenile Sprint at Caymanas Park last Saturday.

Ridden by Shane Ellis, the dark bay colt by Hold Me Back – Candy Girl, who was scratched from his last race — the Cash Pot ‘Only One For Me’ Trophy on October 19 due to fractious behaviour, once again proved to be problematic before the start of the 1,300-metre event. It took the gate handlers nearly 10 minutes to get him into the number seven post.

Despite the problems at the start, Zugulu flew out of the starting gates and assumed a commanding position over Girly Girly Links (Omar Walker) and Glyder (Rayan Wilson).

When asked to really run by Ellis turning for home, Zugulu powered home in deep stretch to win by five-and-a-half comfortable lengths over stable companions Jamai Raja (Bebeto Harvey) and Baby P (Odeen Edwards) in 1:20:3 minutes.

Trainer Richard Azan said that his charge’s next assignment will be in the November 28 Pick -3 Super Challenge Trophy.

“I was happy with Zugulu’s performance, he ran well. We now have to prepare him for the second leg in the SVL Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy later this month and I think that he has a good chance of winning. He was very fractious today (Saturday) but we are working to correct that problem and I hope we solve it soon,” Azan said.

Ellis was also pleased with Zugulu’s effort.

“It was a good performance by Zugulu knowing that he gave a lot of trouble to get into the starting gates.

“He got a little tired, but he needed that. With Zugulu it is just a mind thing because in the mornings he goes into the starting gates perfectly but in the afternoon it is a different thing, he is a different horse, so we have just to school him as much as possible in the mornings and hope he will get over this situation,” Ellis said.