The remarkable winning streak of Corner Pocket continued on Saturday with the five-year-old handling yet another class rise to take his unbeaten streak to eight.
The gelding took out the Listed Elms Handicap at Headquarters, defying a late betting drift when chasing down Morvada whilst also holding off race favourite Mr Brightside.
Given how dominate he’s been, trainer Lindsay Smith is now pursuing some of the upcoming autumn riches with the five-year-old set to run next up in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington and if he wins that, he’ll find himself competing for the $5m All-Star Mile.
“It’s a good habit to have, every time he goes around, I think it’s the end of them but he’s one of those horses that a lot of things fall his way like the gates and the conditions,” Smith said on SEN Track’s Bensley.
“With the situation with the All-Star Mile, he’s earnt the right to have a crack, he’s put himself there.
“If he drew barrier 16 in the Blamey, it’s a situation he couldn’t win, I'd mostly take him but he’s earned his right to be there.
“It’s a once a year sort of job and it's worth a lot of money and he obviously has to win to get it because I didn’t nominate him.
“I didn’t think he was good enough, I just thought I’d go a different direction but if he wins, he’s in.”
This year’s All-Star Mile will be run at Flemington on March 19 where Zaaki is currently the $3.50 favourite with Sportsbet.
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