Zoumeteor to give Stuart Kendrick a happy homecoming

By Glenn Davis

Fresh from a winning double at Caloundra on Sunday, the Stuart Kendrick stable is hopeful Zoumeteor can reproduce his Magic Millions winning form at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday.

Zoumeteor – a James Orman mount – steps out for his fourth start this campaign in the Class 6 Handicap over the 1000 metre dash.

The five-year-old has only had 17 starts for five wins and four placings earning prize money just short of $400,000.

His biggest win came in the Magic Millions Country Cup at the Gold Coast in January when he led all the way to give Kendrick his first win at a Magic Millions carnival.

Kendrick has just returned from a three-week European holiday and has left the running of the stable to his sons, Nathan and Bailey.

Zoumeteor, who jumps from barrier seven, beat only two runners home last start when tenth to Liquor in a 1000 metre Class 6 Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on August 10.

“Dad just got back on Monday morning from a three-week holiday in Europe so we’ll put him back into work soon,” Nathan Kendrick joked. 

“Zoumeteor has drawn seven of eight, which isn’t ideal, but Jim Orman’s on him to get the job done.”

Nathan hasn’t been too disappointed with the five-year-old’s form this campaign despite his latest run.

“He raced well first-up when he ran second here at the Sunshine Coast then he ran on a real heavy track at the metro meeting here just before they called off the meeting," Nathan said.

“He was never really in it from a wide gate last start and never had much go his way but hopefully back to a small field and back in grade we’ll see him bounce back.

“It’s a month between runs and he races best fresh so it looks a nice race for him.”

Nathan said a good performance could see Zoumeteor have another crack at the Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast in January.

“We want to see how he goes on Wednesday and if he can win another race in town, we might freshen him up for the Magic Millions again if he’s going well enough,” Nathan said.

Nathan is also confident Sebring Girl - a Cody Collis mount - can end a frustrating run of three straight placings in the Class 5 Handicap over 1600 metres.