Mark Zahra is confident I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) will handle the increments in distance he will face in his coming three runs which will culminate in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate over 2040 metres.
Zahra speaking on Racing.com’s The Wrap on Sunday morning said he was confident I’m Thunderstruck could run a strong 2000 metres.
“The way he’s going in this preparation he’s absolutely flying. He’s relaxing in his races and he’s finishing really strongly. I’ve got good confidence in the horse that he’ll be able to get 2000 metres,” Zahra said.
Zahra pointed out that I’m Thunderstruck had had only one run over 2000 metres which was in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick when he finished sixth behind Think It Over and he was in the saddle that day.
“It was on a heavy 10 at the end of the Sydney carnival so you could probably forgive him a little bit but he’s still got to do it. It’s always going to hold a tiny bit of concern with a horse who hasn’t won over 2000 metres until he does it.”
Zahra reflected on I’m Thunderstruck’s win and thought even when he got into the clear to chase down Alligator Blood he thought he would still get beaten by a half-length.
“He showed a good will to win my horse when we got within the space of Alligator Blood,” he said.
Co-trainer Mick Price also said I’m Thunderstruck had pulled up well and would continue with his plan to get to the Cox Plate by running in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Sandown Hillside on September 24 and then the Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 10 before he tackled the Cox Plate on October 24.
“I checked that horse’s heart rate 25 minutes post the race and it was back to normal and perfect. It looked like he had had a hard run, but he’s got the capacity to do it,” Price said.
