More wet track woes confront Zabeelionaire

Friday 21 June 2013, 4:11pm

Trainer Leon Corstens is on a weather watch for the second week in a row with Zabeelionaire.

Corstens scratched Zabeelionaire from the Ipswich Cup and says he'll do it again in Saturday's Tattersall's Cup at Eagle Farm if he isn't happy with the state of the track.

After being posted in the dead range on Thursday, Eagle Farm, much to the surprise of Corstens, was downgraded to a heavy rating on Friday after only 14mm of rain.

Before making a final decision on a Cup start for Zabeelionaire, Corstens said he would speak to track manager Bill Shuck who is hopeful the track will return to a slow rating with fine weather forecast for Saturday.

Next week's Caloundra Cup is a back-up race Corstens will consider if he scratches Zabeelionaire.

"If it's a nice week and the track looks like drying out I'd love to have another crack at the Caloundra Cup," he said.

"I've won it before with Gossips and it would be an ideal race for Zabeelionaire provided he gets a decent surface."

Corstens has been trying to avoid wet tracks with Zabeelionaire since the four-year-old ran last in the Eagle Farm Cup won by Quintessential on June 1.

The Brian Smith-trained Rothera is the $4.50 for the Tatt's Cup because of his excellent record on wet tracks.

Peter Moody acknowledges the 2200m of the Cup is short of Ibicenco's preferred distance range but says he has worked on keeping the gelding fresh.

The Queensland Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm on July 6 remains on the table as an option for Ibicenco after the Tatt's Cup.

– AAP

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