- Ex-Sir Michael Stoute moved to Australia and won four Group 1s
- Retired in 2023, winning over £6million in prize money
- Now could compete at 2028 Olympics
Former Sir Michael Stoute-trained horse Zaaki could be set for a tilt at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after starting a new career upon his retirement from the race track.
Ex-Sir Michael Stoute In-Mate Zaaki Set For 2028 Olympics
Zaaki had a fairly successful career in England when trained by the legendary Sir Michael Stoute and won the Group 3 Diamond Stakes at Epsom.
He also ran at Royal Ascot in 2018 when third in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes. And Zaaki even won a Queen Anne Stakes trial once upon a time, but never participated in the actual race.
Then after 17 races for Stoute, he switched trainers and went down under to Annabel Neasham in Australia.
He would go on to transform his career even more, winning four Group 1s accumulating over £6million in prize money.
During his time in Australia, he won the Group 1 Champion Stakes twice, a race won by Aidan O’Brien in 2019. Another ex-British horse Via Sistina has won the last two renewals as well.
🇦🇺AUSTRALIA(Flemington ) 05/11/2022 : (GR.1) Zaaki(Leroidesanimaux/Kesara By Sadler’s Wells)
Wins TAB Champions Stakes
3 years old & upwards
2000m Turf(02:02:00)O : C E Holt, P J Prendrrgast Et Al
T : @ANeashamRacing
J : @jamieleekah072nd :Mo’unga
3nd:Hezashocka
4nd:Anamoe pic.twitter.com/88bCJBrqpN— NAHEEZ RACING نحيز ريسنغ (@musallamqatan) November 5, 2022
However, Zaaki was retired in 2023 having won 15 races from 48 starts. As well as the four Group 1s mentioned, he also won six times at Group 2 level.
Since retirement, he has been under the guidance and care of Australian eventing rider Shenae Lowings as an Off The Track thoroughbred.
And new connections seem to have found a new job for him after he put in an encouraging eventing performance at the Thoroughbred Sport House Association National Titles.
New Zaaki Connections Reveal Future Olympics Plan
Lowings was speaking to The Verdict podcast about her horse.
“It’s been a great journey ,and he’s turning out to be as much of a champion in eventing as he was on the racetrack, so it’s really exciting.
“I think a lot of these good horses just want to be good at anything they do, and Zaaki’s definitely one of them. He wanted to be good on the racetrack and he wants to be good at the career he’s doing now.
“He just loves it and he’s loving every minute of his eventing career.
“I truly believe he’s a good enough jumper to go all the way to the 2028 Olympics. It’s just mentally and physically whether he wants to do that. His natural ability, I think, is good enough.
“I don’t want to have too many goals with him, I just want him to enjoy his career after racing. He really doesn’t owe anyone anything. At this stage, he’s loving it, but the minute he stops loving it is the minute we’ll stop, but I can’t see that happening any time soon.“
