Bruno Cannatelli
One of the hottest jockeys in the country Mark Zahra has been called up for the ride on Humidor for this Saturday's intriguing Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington.
Trainer Darren Weir confirmed on Sunday that Zahra had been chosen for the horse that got so close to Winx in last spring's Cox Plate but he said the Blamey Stakes ride on stable mate Tosen Stardom remained open.
The Blamey Stakes could be one of the big-name races of the autumn as Lloyd Williams is considering runner one or either of his Melbourne Cup quinella horses Johannes Vermeer and Rekindling first-up in the 1600-metre race.
Zahra has ridden Humidor just once when eighth in last spring's Memsie Stakes at Caulfield but no rider is having a better run through Melbourne's autumn carnival.
On Saturday, Zahra won the group 2 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington on Not A Single Cent and over the past three weeks has scored a Group 1 Oakleigh Plate win aboard Russian Revolution as well as stakes wins with the likes of Nomothaj, Gailo Chop (twice), Prairie Fire and Double Bluff.
Zahra was the logical No.1 choice for Weir as Humidor's regular rider Damian Lane is serving a suspension from last week's Racing.com Park meeting and is not available until March 20 while Tosen Stardom's most recent rider Ben Allen is also suspended until March 24 after causing interference in the New Zealand Derby aboard Civil Disobedience.
Both Humidor and Tosen Stardom progress from the Blamey to the Doncaster Handicap on the opening day of The Championships on April 7 before tackling Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.