ZABRATONE GOES ONE BETTER

After finishing second to Sencity over 7 ½ furlongs (1,500m) on March 19, Zabratone returned and went one better in a five-year-old and upwards (non-four) event over seven furlongs (1,400m).

Zabratone battled Step In Faith for the lead at the off. However, leaving the five-furlong (1,000m) point, jockey Raddesh Roman sent on the Colin Ferguson-trained Zabratone to the lead, and the chestnut gelding began to open up on the field navigating the half-mile turn.

In deep stretch, Zabratone kept up his work and went on to win by 1 ¼ lengths in a time of 1:27.4 for his fourth career win from 37 starts. D’s Choice (Tevin Foster) came from behind horses to get second place as Sheboom (Dane Dawkins) closed for third money.

JOCKEY DICK CARDENAS ANNOUNCES HIS RETURN

Former champion jockey Dick Cardenas wasted no time when he booted home Sir Kel, his first ride on return to the saddle at the Park in a claiming ($750,000-$600,000) race for three-year-olds and upwards over the straight course at five furlongs (1,000m).

Sir Kel wasn’t the best to leave the starting gates at the off, but Cardenas held the O’Neil Markland trainee behind the pacesetters Casual Affair (Aaron Chatrie) and Mr Universe (Youville Pinnock).

Coming across the dummy rails, Sir Kel got into his groove and the six-year-old bay gelding found top stride to surge to the lead and then held the advantage to the line, 2 ½ lengths ahead of Custer (Trevor Simpson) and Sudden Flight (Paul Francis). The winning time was 1:01.0.

NO PROBLEMS FOR DOWN-IN-CLASS

Stepping down from the $400,000-$300,000 claiming spread, Buckaluck obliged as the favourite in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250-000-$200,000) contest over four furlongs (800m).

Jockey Anthony Thomas held Buckaluck off the early fractions as Voytek (Tevin Foster), Highly Bless (Matthew Bennett), and Pakman (Andre Powell) showed the way ahead of rivals in the quick dash.

The Steven Todd trainee got going coming across the dummy rails and exploded on the inside of runners to win by a length. Pakman finished second and Highly Bless third. The final time was 49.0 seconds.

PROSECCO COMES GOOD AFTER EQUIPMENT CHANGE

Running with the blinkers off for the first time in nine starts, the Patrick Lynch-trained Prosecco easily brushed aside rivals in a four-year-old and upwards (non-two) at 6 ½ furlongs (1,300m).

With Dane Dawkins returning to the saddle, Prosecco was off to a good start, settling in fourth place behind Tina’s Account (Youville Pinnock), Thegoodlife (Jordan Barrett), and King Antholew (Dick Cardenas) down the backstretch.

Prosecco drew closer to the leaders at the half-mile before hitting the front full of running at the top of the straight. Prosecco went on to win by 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Mental Warfare (Oneil Mullings) and Tina’s Account. The winning time for the race was 1:21.1.

EIGHT HORSES CLAIMED

In the third race, Anthony Nunes claimed Sudden Flight for owner Nigel Fisher for $750,000 from Ryan Darby, while Welsh Soutar claimed Custer for himself, also for $750,000 from Gary Crawford.

Alford Brown claimed the winner of the fourth race Buckaluck for owner David Reid for $250,000 from Steven Todd, and Ian Roberts claimed Pakman for himself for $250,000 from Henry Harrison Jr.

In the fifth race, Clifford Atkinson Jr claimed Bloodsweatandtears for owner Garfield James from Gresford Smith, Anthony Dixon claimed Tradition for owner New Money Connection from Shaun Williams, Colin Ferguson claimed winner Ricky Ricardo for owner Fisher’s Place from Dennis Thwaites, and Ray Phillips claimed Diosa De Oro for owner Philip Edwards from Norman Smith. All horses in the fifth were claimed for $400,000 each.