Team Snowden and Mark Zahra have already tasted Oakleigh Plate success together, and the trio will renew their association in the race this Saturday with Moir Stakes winner, Wild Ruler.
Zahra guided the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Russian Revolution to victory in the 2018 renewal of the event and left the gallops at Caulfield feeling impressed with Wild Ruler, at what was his first sit on the horse.
“His work was really good, the further he went, the more he improved,” Zahra said.
“I reckon he worked well enough to run a very good race on Saturday.”
Prior to travelling to Melbourne, Wild Ruler had two barrier trials in Sydney, and won both.
He also boasts a strong first up record, having finished in the top two in all five of his fresh up outings, and Zahra suggested he felt fit enough to continue that trend for the start of his autumn campaign.
“He didn’t have much of a puff at all when he came back in,” he said.
“Obviously, the Snowden’s are very good trainers and I think they’ve targeted this race for a little while, so he’s set and ready to go.”
Renowned for being a brutally fast 1100m contest, the Oakleigh Plate suits a particular kind of sprinter, but Zahra believes that Wild Ruler fits the bill for what’s required.
“There’s always a heap of pressure in it, so you’ve got to have a horse that’s got a little bit of speed so you can be somewhere in touch,” he said.
“He won’t be too far away. I think he’s the perfect sort of horse.”
Sportsbet have assessed Wild Ruler as an $11 hope for the Oakleigh Plate.
Watch Wild Ruler’s latest barrier trial
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