Jockey Mark Zahra to ride $26 chance Tropicus in $3m Caulfield Guineas

Jockey Mark Zahra will need to be at his brilliant best if he is to win a second Caulfield Guineas on Saturday.

Big-race jockey Mark Zahra faces a tough task to win his second Caulfield Guineas on Tropicus.

Zahra rode Super Seth to a spectacular win over Alligator Blood for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman in 2019 and will ride Tropicus for the duo in Saturday’s $3m event.

Zahra got a good guide to Tropicus when piloting the colt in the $1m Golden Rose in which the pair finished seventh behind Godolphin star Broadsiding.

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Tropicus needs to find five lengths on Broadsiding in the Caulfield Guineas after that margin separated the pair at their Sydney meeting.

“Broadsiding is the best three-year-old in the country,” Zahra said.

“I think he’s proven that over 1400m-plus.”

Ladbrokes rated Tropicus as a $26 chance to roll the $1.60 favourite Broadsiding.

While there was a big gap between Tropicus and Broadsiding, Zahra said his mount could make some inroads if he behaved better in the Caulfield Guineas.

Broadsiding! The @godolphin colt becomes the first horse to win the G1 Golden Rose first-up and he is now a three-time G1 winner. That's a third Golden Rose for @mcacajamez 🔵🔵🔵 pic.twitter.com/lOM6NAi36Z

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 28, 2024

“Tropicus’s racing manners weren’t the best up there (in Sydney) so getting to Melbourne suits him coming back this way,” Zahra said.

“But he’s still got to improve a little bit.”

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Tropicus, a son of Too Darn Hot, has one advantage over Broadsiding in that he has raced and won at Caulfield.

Tropicus won over 1100m on the track on debut in May.

“Caulfield is always a hard track so to come here and have won helps,” Zahra said.

“Going there to have another look around on Tuesday also helps him.”

Drawing barrier one will also help Tropicus, who will have his first start over 1600m in the Caulfield Guineas.

Broadsiding is unbeaten in three starts over 1600m, including wins in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and JJ Atkins over the journey as a two-year-old.

Originally published as Jockey Mark Zahra to ride $26 chance Tropicus in $3m Caulfield Guineas