Master Zephyr back in winner’s circle

Master Zephyr has got the better of fellow import Kilimanjaro at Flemington to land his first win in almost 16 months.

The Darren Weir-trained gelding won three of his first seven starts after arriving from the UK in the 2015-16 season but following the 2016 Terang Cup he went 20 races without another victory.

Master Zephyr set out after leader Kilimanjaro in the straight during Saturday’s VRC Member Beverley Hogan Handicap (2530m) as the pair pulled away from the rest of the field.

Master Zephyr, the $3.50 favourite, edged out Kilimanjaro ($3.70) by a neck, with Crafty Cruiser ($31) another four lengths back in third.

Managing owner Terry Henderson from OTI Racing was happy to see the six-year-old, who was ridden by apprentice Ben Allen, back in the winner’s circle.

“He’s a lovely little horse and he seems to have been typical of those horses who arrive on the scene very strong, go off for a little while, and now Weiry has got him back to where he was today,” Henderson said.

He said The Bart Cummings at Flemington and The Metropolitan in Sydney were among the spring options for Master Zephyr.

The Group Three Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 7 carries a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup for the winner.

“It would be too premature to say he would make a Cup horse but he’ll certainly make a very good country Cups horse,” Henderson said.