Zamex to jump at chance to atone

Trainer Matthew Dunn is ready to forgive Zamex’s last start, when he gave the field a 10 length advantage before realising there was a race to win.

The three-year-old eventually made up enough ground to finish runner-up to Niccanova at the Gold Coast in mid-May while he also jumped more enthusiastically at a barrier trial 10 days later.

Missing the kick is rarely a selling point, although Zamex is still the $3.40 TAB favourite for Saturday’s Highway Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.

“It is a little bit of a chink in his armour,” Dunn said.

“He had a trial to make sure he was going to jump OK. He jumped better, not perfect.”

Dunn said the quality of Zamex’s run once he got into gear was impressive and he felt a clean jump would have allowed him to beat Niccanova who backed up to claim the Fred Best Classic (1400m) last Saturday.

“He rushed really well late. He should have beaten a horse that’s gone on to win a Group Three,” he said.

Zamex has drawn barrier two with Tye Angland to ride and will drop back before endeavouring to reel in the leaders.

“I think he’ll make a handy stayer eventually,” Dunn said.

“He’s not ready to cope with that sort of preparation yet but that’ll come with time.”

Dunn originally planned to run Zamex in the Queensland Guineas on Saturday week but scrapped those plans once the Eagle Farm track controversy gained traction.

But a decent showing in the Highway could still result in Zamex going north for the Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas on July 1.

“If he won well we might go for the Guineas but at the moment he’s in Sydney and there’s a Class Three (1500m) for him in two weeks at Rosehill,” Dunn said.

The Murwillumbah trainer has two runners at Doomben on Saturday – Londehero ($10) in the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) and Strawberry Boy, a $26 chance in the Group Two Moreton Cup (1200m).

“It’s probably a hundred metres too short for Londehero,” Dunn said.

Strawberry Boy is an eight-year-old previously trained by Gai Waterhouse, Peter Moody and Chris Waller.