Prince Ziggy’s owners are daring to dream after the five-year-old underlined his toughness with a courageous victory at Sandown on Wednesday.
Two weeks after he pulled out a career-best run at Flemington, “Ziggy” shot clear on Victorian horse premiership when he overcame adversity to land the My Punter BM70 Hcp (2100m).
After being posted three-wide without cover and being asked to make two runs in the race, Prince Ziggy was impressive as he steamed to the line 1-1/2 lengths clear of Seas No limit and Into Rio.
Rarely do you see horses overcome such circumstances, but apprentice Chelsea MacFarlane showed great judgement and Prince Ziggy’s class horse shone through.
“With 60kg and the outside barrier we needed every bit of Chelsea’s 3kg kilo claim and a good ride from her and she delivered,” trainer Jamie Edwards said.
“It was a gun ride. She showed a lot of initiative mid-race when she took up the lead and then got the horse to relax again and got him hitting the line.
“It is very hard to teach kids that kind of judgement and they tend to go on and make very good riders.”
“Ziggy” now sits one win clear on top on the Victorian horse premiership with five wins for the season, two seconds and a third from 10 starts.
“He is probably the most in-form horse in Victoria at the moment and is doing everything right,” Jamie said.
“He’s had a long campaign but he looks a picture and is eating everything so there is no reason not to keep him going while is racing so well.”
Sportsbet have quoted Prince Ziggy at $301 for the Melbourne Cup and the gelding’s excited owners are keen to share the thrills on social media.
After his Sandown success part-owner Brian McKiterick, who was on track, summed it up on Facebook – “An awesome win by “the knee-high to a grasshopper “ Ziggy. Just continues to fly under the radar and impresses everyone.”
Other owners at Sandown were the Brewster and Riley families, Mark Lawry, and for the first time, Bill Cassarino saw Prince Ziggy win.
Unfortunately, Zig and Kez Witcombe got stuck in traffic while others who could not be on the track were Brian O’Dwyer, David and Russell Bruce, and Dave Ryder who suggested you need a passport to get to Sandown.
Zig Witcombe may not have been there but like all his fellow owners he rides Prince Ziggy all the way. “Unbelievable the feeling you get when your little mate is too strong and wins,” he recently posted.