Zakynthos Imprintz has continued to be a model of consistency this preparation thanks to a narrow victory at Warwick Farm in the Berant Builders Handicap.
Zakynthos Imprint and Lauri Wray (blue) fight Cornwall Park (NZ) and Blake Shinn (green) on the inside, picture Sportpix.com.au
The Gary Nickson-trained gelding has barely put a foot wrong this campaign and was his honest reliable self once again in the Benchmark 85 Berant Builders Handicap (1600m).
The Footstepsinthesand five-year-old wasted no time in getting to the front and from there could not be caught, holding off a late challenge from Cornwall Park for a second straight win.
“He's been doing really well,” Stable Foreman Daniel Nickson said.
“He knuckles down, he doesn't like getting beat, what more can you say?
Nickson was also full of praise for apprentice jockey Lauri Wray who claimed a winning double at Warwick Farm today, also partnering Havana Rey to victory in the first event.
The young apprentice has now won aboard the rising six-year-old three times this campaign.
“She rides him a treat,” Nickson said.
“She knows the horse inside and out, she comes down every morning and rides him and he has been doing really well.”
The duo usually find themselves positioned up near the lead however still did enough setting the tempo thanks to getting away with cheap sectionals.
“My intentions weren't to lead today but he jumped really well and that was just where he wanted to be,” Wray said.
“He travelled really well.
“It has been a really good training performance from Mr Nickson also. He has been up for a long time but he is still racing really good.”
Picture ATC