Newcastle preview: Trainer John Thompson is quietly confident progressive gelding Zouripper can win again

Following two unlucky runs, the John Thompson-trained Zouripper was impressive in winning his maiden last start and can go on and make it back-to-back wins.

Trainer John Thompson has Zouripper placed to make it back-to-back wins at Newcastle. Picture: Grant Guy

Trainer John Thompson thought he would get a debut win with Zouripper earlier this year and while things didn’t turn out as planned, the gelding has quickly made amends and is set to go back-to-back.

Thompson sent Zouripper to Nowra for his debut run back in February but the gelding missed the kick by a couple of lengths before finishing second behind Well Timed.

Following a spell, he had absolutely no luck when resuming at Warwick Farm and did well to finish two and a half lengths behind Linwood over 1100m.

At Canterbury last start, the gelding settled last before railing around the bend and peeling wider at the 200m to charge home and beat Trunk over 1200m.

“It surprised me that he got beat on debut at Nowra,” said Thompson.

Zouripper you ripper! 💥

The @JTRacingRwik trained gelding wins at double figure odds in Race 2 at Canterbury with @SchofieldChad on board. pic.twitter.com/Bu0E2RfGiE

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 24, 2024

“The horse who beat him come out and won again and does go very well. He was second to Bundeena at Randwick on Saturday.

“First-up at Warwick Farm this time in, you could see he ran well, he just had nothing go right that day. He was a hard luck story.

“I was really pleased with not just the win the other day but the way he did it. He has got plenty of upside.”

The gelding looks a great chance of making it back-to-back wins when he contests the Class 1 Handicap (1400m) with Chad Schofield to again ride.

“He’s a very good chance again,” Thompson said.

“He’s got a good draw and I think the big track will suit him better than Canterbury. Also the 1400m looks a better distance for him.

“I don’t think the 61kg will be an issue. He won’t have a lot of dead weight with Chad riding a little heavier at the moment.

“He’s a big horse and won’t have trouble carrying that.”

Joining Zouripper on the truck is Hellaine and Powerful Dolphins who resume in the 4YO and Up Maiden Plate (1200m).

“Hellaine has some form around her and is trialling well,” he said.

“While she will probably benefit from the run, she is sneaky each-way chance.

“Powerful Dolphins just needs a bit of racing and to get up to the mile.”

What do we have here? 👀

Has the still undefeated Joiselle put her hand up as a potential #TheKosciuszko contender? @sconeraceclub@cavanoughracing@racing_nswpic.twitter.com/leZigYf8vb

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 12, 2024

Meanwhile, trainer Brett Cavanough has put a line through the run of Joiselle after her first defeat at Randwick last month when down the track behind Hi Dubai.

“Obviously, she had to get beat at some stage but it was on a track that just wasn’t fair,” Cavanough said.

“The track was just horrible so I just put a line through that run and moved on.

“Also, she was racing in between horses and she is only a slight filly so that didn’t help either.”

Joiselle drops back in grade to the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) but Cavanough will keep a close eye on the track conditions.

“She is only a little girl but she has a really good motor,” he said. “She was probably well placed her in first three starts - a couple at Dubbo and one at Scone.

“She would go back to country grade and handle them really easily.

“Will she be progressive? We need to find out but this looks a progressive race for her at Newcastle.

“I’d be hesitant to run her of all this rain gets to Newcastle.

“I don’t want to run her is the track gets to a scrap heap but Newcastle is the best wet weather track around.”

Cavanough also has Silver City entered for the same race.

“His run at Forbes was encouraging considering it was an on fence leader bias,” he said.

“He did makes a bit of ground late. He was honest and he tried.

O’ROURKE’S MARE IS READY TO SHINE

Hawkesbury trainer Edward O’Rourke expects lightly-raced mare Shine Like It Does to be even better next preparation as she gets out to a staying trip but has found the ideal race for her to claim her maiden win.

Shine Like It Does has placed at two of her four starts including a third behind the promising Coast Guard on her home track over 1500m just over three weeks ago.

O’Rourke has kept her fresh and she looks hard to beat in the Midway Maiden Handicap (1600m) with Zac Lloyd to ride.

“She is coming towards the end of her preparation and I would love to get a win on the board with her before she goes to the paddock. She deserves that,” said O’Rourke.

“I’ve just been looking for a suitable race and this does look a lovely race for her.

“She looks like she will make a nice stayer in the further. The older she gets, the better she will get.”

It's the @SnowdenRacing1 trained Coast Guard saluting in the Hawkesbury opener! pic.twitter.com/LOVpVACURV

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 21, 2024

The four-year-old mare arrived at O’Rourke’s stables earlier this year unraced and has been pleased with her progression with just the one blip when down the track at Kembla two starts ago.

“She was very good second-up finishing third at Kembla then she had a little hiccup at her third start but we found out what that was and she returned to form pretty quick once she got past that.

“I was really happy with her last run. She settled well, was momentarily held up on the bend but found the line nicely.

“The winner was too good but I was pleased with her.

“I think she has come on again from that run and she should go very close to winning.”

O’Rourke will wait until race morning before deciding if Kazotsky resumes in the 4YO and Up Maiden Plate (1200m) providing there is a scratching and he gets a run.

“He is a horse I prepared for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale,” he said.

“He ran good time and did everything right and sold for $120,000.

“I’m not sure what happened with him in his two starts for Annabel Neasham. Perhaps he just needed gelding.

“I remember he was a bit of a brat as a colt back then.

“I have taken my time with him and I have been pleased with him.

“He has been good in both trials, the first on a heavy track and has taken improvement from each.

Originally published as Newcastle preview: Trainer John Thompson is quietly confident progressive gelding Zouripper can win again