Well related 4 year old Siyouni (FR) mare ZAKIYAA has very much been the proverbial “work in progress” because she displayed talent early in her career but has taken some time to learn the race craft required to produce success under race conditions. Not able to settle and travel comfortably in some of her earlier races, the mare was perfectly ridden by Ryan Maloney at Ipswich yesterday in a 1,350 metres class 1. Allowing ZAKIYYA to settle midfield looking relaxed in the run albeit sitting wide, Ryan began to improve sharply at the 500 metres mark. At the turn for home the pair went even wider, but once balanced in the straight, ZAKIYYA extended in the closing stages of the race for a very comfortable win. Ryan commented “she travelled really well was nice and settled and she feels like she will go on with it now”.

Congratulations to the winning ZAKIYYA owners Raelene Glasgow, David Meldrum, Barry Johnston, Paramount Racing (Manager: Kathryn Wood), Boeara Holdings (Manager: Denise Dunphy), Martin Ive, Rachel Ive, Cockram Racing IV (Manager: William Cockram), Shane Hatton, Michael Hatton, Leon Mugavin, Martin Chong, CGO Racing.