Zanbagh impresses new stable before debut

Wednesday 11 November 2015, 4:25pm

There are promising signs dual Oaks placegetter Zanbagh can revive her ailing racing career under new trainer John Thompson.

Prepared by the late Guy Walter to finish second in the 2013 VRC Oaks as well as last year's ATC Australian Oaks, Zanbagh returns to NSW after campaigning in Victoria for Patrick Payne.

The best Zanbagh could manage in 11 starts for Payne was a third placing in a Benalla Cup and she never raised hopes she could turn her three-year-old Classic form into something that could stamp her as a major spring Cups chance.

Thompson, fresh from training Honesta to a VRC Oaks placing last week, says he will be surprised if Zanbagh can't make it back to a competitive level of racing.

Now a five-year-old, Zanbagh steps out for his Randwick stable for the first time in the Cellarbrations Wyong November Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday.

"I reckon she is in for a good preparation," Thompson said.

"If the way she looks and the way she has been working is any indication she'll win something for us.

"You never know about their attitude until you start racing them but her two trials were good."

Zanbagh was one of the star three-year-old fillies of the 2013-2014 season, finishing runner-up to Kirramosa in the VRC Oaks, winning the Keith F Nolan Classic and taking second behind Rising Romance in the ATC Australian Oaks.

She will be reunited with Kathy O'Hara on Saturday.

O'Hara did a lot of the early educational work on Zanbagh, riding her in her first four starts as a two and three-year-old as Walter brought her along carefully.

Zanbagh will resume against a field of off-season open handicappers on the limit weight.

Her opposition will include Centre Pivot who won two restricted-class races leading into the Sydney spring carnival before being sent for a short break.

– AAP

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