Zaaki Form to Hold Up in Bill Ritchie

Trainer Chris Waller will saddle up two runners in Saturday’s Gr3 Bill Ritchie Handicap at Randwick, a race the Champion trainer has won on four occasions in the last eight years. The outsider of his pair, the former Singapore-based Aramayo (Poet’s Voice-Peruvian, by Diktat), heads into a race with a runner-up last time out behind arguably the most exciting galloper in Australia. Starting at 40-1 odds on the Gr2 Tramway Stakes last start when racing first-up from a spell, the Jason Collet ridden Aramayo came from the tail of the field to make up many lengths to take second behind Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux), albeit the winner wasn’t being ridden out to the line as he already had the race well within his grasp. Originally raced in Australia as part of the Godolphin camp, Aramayo was sold to Aramco Racing and was exported to Singapore where he raced to success in the Kranji Mile and Raffles Cup, both Listed races over 1600m. Now back in Australia, the 6YO gelding had three starts in his initial campaign but looks to have turned the corner if his first up run is anything to go by. With Collett sticking with the gelding, the pair have unfortunately drawn barrier 11 of 13, but like last start, are likely to get back anyway. Race favourite Harmony Rose (Glass Harmonium-Gowana, by More Than Ready) progressed significantly in her one and only race campaign to date, and if she is ready fresh over the 1400m, the Gr1 runner-up is sure to be running on well when it counts and prove competitive.