Tamworth preview: Justin Bowen backs eager apprentice Bronte Simpson to get the job done on Zakor

Justin Bowen’s underrated and always consistent galloper Zakor returns to Tamworth chasing a third win at his favourite venue.

Zakor is looking to record his third win at Tamworth. Picture: Bradley Photos

Muswellbrook housed galloper Zakor will make the trip out to Tamworth for the eighth time in his career chasing what would be his third win at the track and distance set aside for the feature event.

The six-year-old’s first run at Tamworth coincided with his first win; Aaron Bullock steering the then Jan Bowen-trained two-year-old to an easy triumph in the April 6, 2021 maiden immediately prior to his honourable fourth in the annual Romantic Dream Plate.

Fast forward to the present and while Zakor is still owned by his breeder, Jan Bowen, he has switched stables to her grandson, Justin, for whom the horse has raced nine times.

During that sequence, Zakor posted an emphatic win at his home track last centred in between four other minor placings.

Zakor lands some good bets and gets up at @thebrookracing for local trainer Justin Bowen! pic.twitter.com/I9Jygqg0l4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 22, 2024

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

“He was tops,” Bowen said. “You take the winner (Flame Of Hestia) out and he’s right there fighting it out for the finish. The winner was just a class above them on the day and we won’t find one of them at Tamworth, that’s for sure.

“The Wyong track is a little tight and he is a big boy so by the time he winds-up it’s all over but a track like Tamworth will definitely suit him.

“He is always highly competitive and back to his own grade on Friday, it is certainly one of races that with the right run and a bit of luck, he’ll be right there.

“If we can find the right race, which I think we have, he is ready to break through again.”

Zakor has been ridden by some of the best in the business in his time with Justin Bowen, namely Aaron Bullock, Ashley Morgan, Clayton Gallagher, Darryl McLellan and Josh Parr.

This week, it will be the turn of highly regarded young apprentice Bronte Simpson in the TLE Electrical Benchmark 74 Handicap (1000m).

“I have followed her for a while and she is riding really well,” Bowen said.

“She is always messaging me every time we’ve got a runner asking if we have anything and we finally got the right one for her.

“Zak is pretty tractable. He is pretty easy just to jump and be on speed and the way Bronte rides, she does such a good job, so I think she’ll get along with him pretty well.”

Atoka breaks her maiden at her 26th start! 😮 pic.twitter.com/aFnhl8ZaOk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 6, 2025

For the record, Zakor is a son of Golden Rose and Doomben 10,000 winner Epaulette who was exported to Turkey in 2021 to continue his stud duties.

Bowen heads to Tamworth with a second Epaulette foal, this one named Atoka who is raced in partnership by Jan Bowen and the Hunter Valley living legend, Pat Farrell.

The four-year-old Atoka is rated a $71 chance to win the Anytime Self Storage Units Class 1 Handicap (1200m) but is given a much better hope of securing a rare (second) win by her trainer.

“It is a nice race for her,” Bowen said. “She gets through the wet and she enjoys Tamworth.

“I can see her bouncing back and running a good one.”

Atoka will need a few scratchings to make the cut, stablemate Thirteen Under will need a flood of absenteeism in the same race, but is not without hope of a medal should he be granted the opportunity.

“He is his own worst enemy. He gets too far back and misses the kick but if he can jump clean and put himself in a position, he is also one that can just pipe up and run a blinder on the day,” he said.

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Ace race broadcaster Anthony Manton can add another winner to his tally should the Waikato Stud graduate Imezaaki find his old spark in the Warnelec Electrical Services Benchmark 58 Handicap (2100m).

Manton is no stranger to the winner’s stall, most often with company from others in one of his Patriot Bloodstock ventures.

As for Imezaaki, he was originally sold for $200,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to Bjorn Baker.

It was during his stay there that Imezaaki recorded his career personal best when finishing third in the Group 3 BRC Grand Prix (2100m) in December 2023.

This week’s assignment is over the exact same trip, third-up off a 1400m and mile run for his new handler, Craig Clegg.

Encoder storms home down the outside in the Grand Prix Stakes, saluting for @freedman_lee! pic.twitter.com/CuOxSynNrk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2023

“He has run over a trip a few times before,” Clegg said.

“I have been happy enough with him. I would have loved to have had another mile under his belt, just to be more satisfying, but we’ll know on Friday whether that’s true or not.

“I have looked through his form, he’s run places on Soft but it is going to be Heavy (this week) but they have all got to plough through it.”

Clegg, meanwhile, takes two of his string into the rich and rewarding Anytime Self Storage Units Country Boosted Class 1 Handicap over 1200m with Rembroy and Cascan fighting it out for the enhanced purse.

“It’s a $30,000 Country Boosted race,” Clegg said. “It terrific what Racing NSW are doing for up here.”

Clegg is leaning the way of Rembroy and hardly surprising given the powerful nature of the gelding’s June 16 win at Tamworth under Aaron Bullock.

“The last 50 to a 100 metres was nice the other day and Aaron said the same thing,” Clegg said.

“He’s drawn (barrier) 3 so Aaron will put him in a nice comfy spot, you’d think.”

And while Rembroy has been dealt a ‘winning draw’, his stablemate will be one of the last of the runners called up.

“Cascan is drawn wide but it’s a get back type who will hopefully run home,” Clegg said.

“It might be a bit short for her but I had to give it a run somewhere to get a bit of match fitness under her belt.”