Grateful Neasham announces Zaaki’s retirement

Posted by RS NewsWire at 7:43am on March 30th

Nine-year-old top-level weight-for-age performer Zaaki has been retired from racing after a 48-start career and amassing more than $11 million in prizemoney.

Annabel Neasham made the announcement on Friday praising the gelding who she attributes as a catalyst to her own success overall as a trainer.

“It is a bittersweet day to be retiring our absolute superstar in Zaaki,” Neasham said via X – formerly Twitter.

“As a young trainer setting out, who would have thought I’d come across a horse like him.

“From day one I owe a huge amount of our success to him. He helped put my name on the map and took us to heights most trainers would only dream of getting to.”

Zaaki’s career began with a second placing at Great Yarmouth in England in June 2017 in a Novice Stakes event over 1200-metres and it wasn’t until April the next year later that he broke his maiden at Thirsk over 1600-metres.

Longer distances were more to his liking and through 2019, Zaaki mixed it with group company in the UK.

His Australian debut was in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in 2021 for an eighth placing but it was the Brisbane Racing Carnival where Australians got a first glimpse of his talent stringing together successive wins in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m), a seven-length romp in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), and the Group 2 The Q22 (2200m).

Adding to the Doomben Cup victory, Zaaki’s three other wins at the highest level came in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) when run at Sandown, Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) and then again in the same race but renamed the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) in 2022.

Zaaki won three successive Hollindale Stakes.

Jockeys James Mcdonald and Jamie Jah paid tribute to Zaaki, each of whom celebrated group one successes aboard him.

“You wore your heart on your sleeve and gave it everything you’ve got every time your stepped out,” McDonald said.

Zaaki retires with a record of 15 wins and 18 placings.

More Racing News

Tough Willaidow shines bright in the Southern Cross Stakes

Purchased for just $7000 and with one leg held together by pins, Willaidow’s tenacity on the racetrack has trainer Marc Conners dreaming of big achievements. The six-year-old gelding showcased his grit once again at Rosehill on Saturday, fending off all challengers to claim victory in the Group Three Southern Cross...

Today

She’s Bulletproof does Littlefield proud in the Bellmaine Stakes

Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is not typically known for pushing her horses hard, but she had to adopt a tougher approach with She’s Bulletproof in the lead-up to a Stakes race at Sandown. The change in training and feeding regimen paid off handsomely when She’s Bulletproof claimed victory in the Group...

Today

Jamie Melham getting used to new name

New York Lustre will forever hold a special place in the heart of jockey Jamie Melham after securing a thrilling victory at Sandown. Trained by Enver Jusufovic, New York Lustre delivered Melham her first win since marrying fellow jockey Ben Melham last month, triumphing in the John Moule Handicap (1200m) on...

Today

Snitzel colt Blitzes rivals in the Canonbury Stakes

Trainer Gerald Ryan remains cautious about pursuing a Golden Slipper start with Blitzburg, despite the colt’s impressive all-the-way victory in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. Blitzburg ($4.80), the most experienced juvenile in the field of seven, surged ahead at the top of the straight and held on...

Today

Inkaruna bobs into 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes contention

Daniel Moor’s dedication to riding in jump-outs at training centers, often overlooked by other jockeys, has paid off in a big way. Moor secured a late booking to ride Inkaruna in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on Saturday after Craig Williams was unable to fulfill his engagement...

Today

The Playwright stars in thrilling finish to win 2025 Widden Stakes

Tulloch Lodge is considering following the same path with The Playwright that led Lady Of Camelot to success 12 months ago, after the filly mirrored her Golden Slipper-winning stablemate by claiming the Widden Stakes. Lady Of Camelot won the fillies’ feature last year before finishing second in the Group 1 Blue...

Today

Fresh Ron’s Finalflutter can win Bunbury Classic 2025 says Morton

Ron’s Finalflutter kicks off her potential WA Oaks campaign this Sunday at Bunbury, and trainer Dan Morton believes she has what it takes to deliver a strong performance fresh in the Listed Greenfields Lodge WA Breeders’ Classic (1200m). “I wouldn’t rule her out,” Morton said on Tabradio. “She’s got a lot...

Yesterday

Paula Trenwith chases birthday gift at the Parks

Morphettville based Paula Trenwith could not think of a better present than that of winning a race on her birthday. Trenwith prepares a team of eight horses at Morphettville and has three runners at the Morphettville Parks meeting on Saturday, her birthday. Savatoff runs in the Happy 80th Birthday Glynn Pretty Handicap (1950m),...

Yesterday

Oh baby: Newcastle mare out to finish on a career-high

If the upcoming Rosehill meeting were scheduled just one day later, in-form mare So Newchee Thinks would be ineligible to race. The daughter of So You Think is currently in foal to Starspangledbanner, and according to racing rules, her official cut-off date for competing is February 1, which coincides with...

Yesterday

Price looking for Gold lining in the Southern Cross Stakes

Luke Price is the first to admit that Our Gold Hope will need both pace and luck to make an impact first-up in a black-type sprint, but he is equally confident she is in strong enough form to defy her outsider status. Priced at $61, the mare is set to start...

Yesterday