Zarius on track for Cup

By By Phillip Quay

Published: 5:01PM Saturday September 23, 2006 Source: ONE Sport

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Mark Walker-trained Zarius staked his claims as a serious Melbourne Cup contender with a powerful last-stride win in the open 2000m event at Hastings on Saturday.

Ridden by Michael Walker, Zarius stormed home in the final 200 metres in only the second run of his spring campaign to grab Shamrock Star in the closing stages.

The Zabeel five-year-old gelding is owned by Cambridge man Bob Emery who was the owner of 1998 Melbourne Cup runner-up Champagne (also by Zabeel).

Zarius will contest the Caulfield Cup and Mackinnon Stakes in Melbourne en route to a start in the $A5 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7.

Last season Zarius won the Group 2 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie and finished third in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie.

He has been weighted at 50.5kg for this year's Melbourne Cup.

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