Mark Zahra reveals why he dumped Gold Trip for Without A Fight in 2023 Melbourne Cup

The last time Gold Trip raced Without A Fight, he trounced him by more than 20 lengths. But jockey Mark Zahra has laid bare the key fact than swung him to the Caulfield Cup winner.

Jockey Mark Zahra has decided to stick with Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight in Tuesday week’s Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images.

Melbourne’s weather played a big part in jockey Mark Zahra’s decision to ditch last year’s winner Gold Trip in next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.

Zahra’s manager late on Saturday announced the jockey had decided to stick with Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight in the Melbourne Cup shortly after he rode Gold Trip to fifth in the Cox Plate.

The decision cleared the way for Cox Plate-winning rider James McDonald to secure the Melbourne Cup ride on Gold Trip after Ben Melham rode the top galloper into this in the Caulfield Cup.

Zahra has formed a terrific partnership with the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight, winning three of four rides on the import, with his only defeat being in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes last month.

Zahra won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes on Gold Trip on October 7 before claiming the Caulfield Cup on Without A Fight.

Gold Trip beat Without A Fight by more than 20 lengths when the pair met in last year’s Melbourne Cup.

WITHOUT A FIGHT WINS THE 2023 CAULFIELD CUP! 🏆@[e-mail]/nbeBLIik2A

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 21, 2023

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But Zahra told RSN the weather forecast, which is likely to ensure a good track for the Melbourne Cup, was a significant factor in his decision.

“I would have said the decision was 60/40 in Without A Fight’s favour,” Zahra said.

“Last year, I thought Gold Trip, all his runs were on soft tracks and he had a soft run in a Caulfield Cup and he ran second.

“He didn’t get out in a Cox Plate on a soft track and then went to the Melbourne Cup.

“I reckon it’s a different kettle of fish this year. He’s had two hard runs on firm tracks, he’ll get a firm track again, I believe anyway, on Cup Day and I think Without A Fight is a better ride.”

Bookmakers think Zahra might have made the wrong decision, keeping Gold Trip as the $4.50 second favourite behind Irish galloper Vauban while Without A Fight is a $7 chance in the latest Melbourne Cup betting.

Zahra said the hardest part of the decision was informing Gold Trip’s owners and co-trainer Ciaron Maher while his mother also had her say on the matter.

“It was hard because I’m very good friends with a couple of owners in the horse so I had to tell them first – and I was having dinner with Ciaron,” Zahra

“They wanted to kill me and my mum, she loves Gold Trip, so she was flat as well.

“It was an extremely tough choice. There wasn’t a great deal between them.”

What a race!

GOLD TRIP wins the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup 🏆
@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/4qJa2gZbpi

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 1, 2022

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Zahra will have plenty of time to prepare for the Melbourne Cup and the preceding Victoria Derby Day meeting as he serves his controversial suspension for breaking the whip rules in the Caulfield Cup.

Zahra said his focus was on maintaining his weight this week to give himself a chance of repeating his outstanding Cox Plate Day performance, which landed him four wins.

“I feel like I’m in the zone at the moment and my weight’s good,” Zahra said.

“To wake up in the morning and not have much weight to lose, that’s a big bonus for me.

“I’ll just train every day and stay on the diet.

“I’ll have a look when the fields come out on Friday for Saturday and see what’s going on and try to stay focused.”

Originally published as Mark Zahra reveals why he dumped Gold Trip for Without A Fight in 2023 Melbourne Cup