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By Graeme White

Apprentice jockey Nyssa Burrells is having the time of her life winning the Cootamundra and Queanbeyan Cups aboard Zakeriz - and the best could still be ahead.

Burrells has been able to dominate both races from out in front and that is where she intends to be again when Zakeriz ($2.15 favourite on TAB) lines up in the prelude of the Ted Ryder Cup (1600m) at Wagga on Monday.

The short-priced favourite has been in explosive form for his Wagga trainer Chris Hardy who is also a part-owner of the seven-year-old with his long-time friend Richard Thackeray.

The duo has raced thoroughbreds together for decades, but there was a time when they didn’t have a runner for several years when both enjoyed a break.

Hardy’s return to training and the emergence of Zakeriz has been a winning tonic for connections as the galloper continues to exceed expectations.

There hasn’t been a country race that Zakeriz hasn’t been competitive in and Monday’s assignment should be another step in the right direction for the Ted Ruder Cup which will be run at Wagga on December 24.

Burrells had no previous involvement with small time trainer Hardy before she rode Zakeriz for the first time. The gelding ran second over 1600m at Wagga and she was then able to dominate the Cootamundra Cup winning by more than three lengths.

The subsequent form out of the Cootamundra Cup has been a strong guide with stablemates Ready To Humble and Invincible Dash both since winning feature races. Zakeriz’s task has been made easier with the scratching on Monday of Invincible Dash, Long Jack, Banger and Sunday’s Nowra Cup winner, She’s All In.

However, he will still have to contend with four rivals in what could be a tricky race if Zakeriz leads as expected. Burrells said Zakeriz had a tendency of going hard in front, but she couldn’t fault his racing style when he claimed the Queanbeyan Cup.

“He actually settled better than I expected. You have to let him run his own race and we actually get on quite well now,” she said.

Burrells said the dual cups were a career highlight and she didn’t mind travelling to wherever it meant to keep her association with Zakeriz. The gelding is her only ride on Monday, but she is accustomed to travelling a long distance for the one ride.

What makes her association with Zakeriz more special is the fact they have been able to win race sin such devastating fashion.

“He is good out of the gates and he always tries at the end of his races,” she said. “He ran a great race when I rode him for the first time over a mile at Wagga and has gone on with it since.”

Burrells also rode Zakeriz in the Country Classic at Rosehill finishing eighth in a $130,000 race. If Zakeriz wins again on Monday, he will be a front-line contender for the $34,000 Ted Ryder Cup on Christmas Eve.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wagga Wagga here