Though her stable star may have retired, the Zaaki connection is still helping Annabel Neasham tread winning paths with imports, as a step back in grade saw Might Ulysses take out the Listed Brisbane Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Finishing outside of the placings on his Australian debut in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24, the five-year-old gelding found the company and conditions to his liking while stablemate Jimi Hendrix ($21), also having his second Australian start, finished second.
Five starts back Mighty Ulysses ($31) ran fifth in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes (1771m) at York in England while Jimi Hendrix also ran fifth in the same race in 2023.
Four years earlier, Zaaki won the Strensall 12 months before his move to Neasham's Sydney stable.
"Annabel was quite confident with both of them as they are both nice horses in the making," Todd Pollard, Neasham's assistant trainer, said.
"She thinks that Mighty Ulysses has a bright future before him, and both of these horses raced against each other in Europe in the Summer Mile.
"That is a race that Zaaki ran second in as well so there are three horses that haven't won it but it is a nice race to find horses out of."
With five wins in 12 starts, the application of ear muffs suited Mighty Ulysses in ironing out some race day quirkiness.
The $1.75 favourite Jimmysstar made a run down the centre of the Eagle Farm lane but couldn't rein in the Neasham pair in a third successive failure as an odds-on favourite.
"He had a bit of a break and going to the mile, he was alright," trainer Ciaron Maher said from Adelaide.
He added that the plan is still to proceed to the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) but the challenge remains for the four-year-old gelding to quality for it.
