Roman’s choice signals Zulu Warrior’s class

Raddesh Roman opting for ZULU WARRIOR after two near misses astride the four-year-old, bypassing United States-bred stablemate, SHOOTING STAR, aboard whom he won back-to-back races, gives more than an insight into the leading rider’s thoughts for Saturday’s Awhofah Sprint at six furlongs.

Astride when beaten by out-of-class CALIFORNIA CROWN at five and a half furlongs in the Kaz Hoshay two weeks ago, Roman returns aboard ZULU WARRIOR, badly needing to make amends after botching what should have been an easy win against MR SENATOR at six and a half furlongs on October 25.

Needlessly chasing FINAL LOAD to the three-furlong point, Roman eventually gave ZULU WARRIOR a breather, unaware that MR SENATOR had started rolling along the rail from off the pace.

But the mistakes didn’t end there, with Roman running wide at the quarter bend, leaving ZULU WARRIOR trying to chase down MR SENATOR, who had already flown the coop, resulting in a half-length loss as the 2-5 favourite.

Claiming rider Tyrique Anderson’s patience aboard ZULU WARRIOR, beating OIL MACHINE at six furlongs on November 15, left a blueprint for Roman to follow two weeks later. However, CALIFORNIA CROWN, last year’s 2000 Guineas winner, was far too good for overnight-allowance runners after playing possum against grade-one horses in six consecutive races.

Having got within a length of ridden-to-the-board CALIFORNIA CROWN in the Kaz Hoshay, ZULU WARRIOR returning only three pounds heavier, getting weight from out-of-shape LABAN and MAJOR DANGER, is certainly form worth following.

ZULU WARRIOR not only shares barn with SHOOTING STAR, but also common ownership, O & S Racers, under the care of Adrian Prince. SHOOTING STAR reports with visor fitted, Prince coaxing the middle-distance foreigner to sprint in what appears to be a bid for the exacta after winning back-to-back races at seven furlongs.

Roman shunning MAJOR DANGER, who he has been aboard for five of the American’s last seven races, suggests the champion jockey has also sized up the five-year-old’s chances against in-form ZULU WARRIOR.

Jason DaCosta’s TEFLON DON, who last beat overnight-allowance company in July, could be a sleeper. Since beating a COOKIE DAY N NIGHT and MR SENATOR at six furlongs, a half of TEFLON DON’s six races since were won by stablemates MAMMA MIA, DOTHRAKI and CALIFORNIA CROWN.

Sitting off the pace while CALIFORNIA CROWN won the Kaz Hoshay, TEFLON DON was never far behind before being eased by Tevin Foster early inside the last furlong.