Rain again threatens Zabeelionaire's Queensland campaign as Leon Corstens waits on update

LEON Corstens is again monitoring the Brisbane weather before deciding whether Zabeelionaire starts in the Tattersall's Cup at Eagle Farm.

Damien Oliver

TRAINER Leon Corstens is again monitoring the Brisbane weather before deciding whether his smart stayer Zabeelionaire starts in the Group 3 Tattersall's Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Corstens did the same thing last week in the lead-up to the Ipswich Cup and, after persistent, rain he took Zabeelionaire out of the race.

"There's no point running him on a wet track. If the track is rain-affected he won't run," he said.

Corstens said if he scratched the four-year-old stallion he would then decide whether they wait another week and run in the Caloundra Cup or return home and start preparing him for the Melbourne spring carnival.

Zabeelionaire has had two starts in Queensland for two lasts - in the Doomben Cup and the Eagle Farm Cup.

But Corstens has not lost any faith in the galloper who finished an unlucky sixth in the Caulfield Cup last year.

"He's going really well. The tracks have been against him," Corstens said.

He has engaged Nash Rawiller to ride him on Saturday.

Corstens' star three-year-old filly Commanding Jewel is progressing well in her recovery from her front joint injury.

"She's now doing light work. She looks really good as she's put on a quite a bit of condition," Corstens said.

"We got the injury cleaned up and gave her a rest. She's come back in good order."

Commanding Jewel has not raced since she won the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in October. She wrenched a near front joint in the lead-up to the autumn.

Corstens said it was a possible Commanding Jewel could run early in the spring.

"Early spring is a real possibility but I will be guided by the track conditions," he said.

Corstens said he was open minded about Commanding Jewels spring campaign but would like to aim her at the Cox Plate.