Cox Plate 2021: Favourite Zaaki ruled out on race morning, Verry Elleegant challenge Anamoe for favouritism

Star jockey James McDonald didn’t believe the news when he heard about Zaaki’s sensational scratching from the Cox Plate as there was a big shift in betting.

Zaaki is out of the Cox Plate. Picture: Michael Klein

Cox Plate favourite Zaaki has been withdrawn from the $5m weight-for-age championship of Australasia with an elevated temperature on race morning.

Devastated trainer Annabel Neasham confirmed the shock scratching on Saturday morning.

“Absolutely devastated to report that Zaaki had been scratched from the Cox Plate due to an elevated temperature,” Neasham posted.

“Gutted for connections and James McDonald.”

Zaaki’s jockey James McDonald said he was in disbelief when he heard the news.

“It just shows in racing that a week is a long time. We were on top of the world and then 7.32 (am) I got the phone call and it hurt a little bit, to be honest,” McDonald said.

“It felt like the rug had been swept straight from underneath you. I kept checking the scratchings to see if it was real. But that’s racing. He’ll live to fight another day and thank God Annabel has another one in the race.”

Verry Elleegant has been the big firmer on Cox Plate morning as punters came to grips with Zaaki’s shock withdrawal.

Even before the late scratching, the Chris Waller-trained mare was being fancied as 10mm of rain fell on The Valley overnight.

Waller won four Cox Plates in a row with the indomitable Winx from 2015-18.

Verry Elleegant moved from $7 into $5 with TAB on the news of Zaaki being out and tightened again to $3.60 during the morning’s trade.

Verry Elleegant accounts for 34 per cent of TAB’s hold on the Cox Plate, including bets of $10,000 at $3.70 and $5000 at $3.80.

Verry Elleegant has been the big mover in Cox Plate betting since the scratching of Zaaki. Picture: Getty Images

The issue with Zaaki was discovered at about 5am.

All being well, Neasham will forge ahead towards the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 6 – the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

While not the Cox Plate, the change will see Zaaki, the most talked about horse in Australia outside Incentivise, compete in front of up to 10,000 people at Flemington.

It is a hammer blow for all concerned with the horse after a meticulous preparation to bounce back from his last-start Group 1 Might And Power defeat.

Star jockey McDonald has spent the past week in Victoria, isolating for several days, to ride the Neasham-trained star.

Neasham said she was “gutted” for McDonald, and track riders Raphael Marchelli and Todd Pollard, who had been overseeing Zaaki’s - preparation in Melbourne, as well as stablemate Mo’unga.

“He’s never had one (temperature) and decides to get one on race day. Just devastating, particularly for Rafael and Todd who did two weeks in quarantine, and particularly for them I’m really sad,” Neasham told Channel 7.

“But he’ll live to fight another day and hopefully we can turn him around quickly and get him to maybe the Mackinnon, it’s probably too early to say now but, yes, just guttered.

“We already have the bloods back. They’re a bit up. It is probably just a 48-hour thing. It is really unfortunate timing particularly as I thought his work here on Tuesday was excellent and he just looked as good as I’ve seen him. Gutterred for the owners, Raph and Todd, and James who’s done a week in isolation to be here.”

Annabel Neasham is devastated by the late scratching of Zaaki. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

Neasham only arrived in Melbourne on Friday for the would-be Cox Plate coronation.

Neasham still has stablemate Mo’unga in the Cox Plate — being ridden by Hugh Bowman.

Zaaki’s withdrawal has reduced the Cox Plate field to eight starters after French import Gold Trip came out on Friday.

Zaaki was easily the most popular runner prior to his scratching – hovering around $3 with TAB and accounting for 33 per cent of the take.

Anamoe is the $3.10 favourite after touching $2.90 earlier.

Big bets on the Godolphin colt on Saturday include $2000 at $3 and $24,090 at $2.90.