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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Annabel Neasham will resist the temptation to kick off glamour gelding Zaaki in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick on Saturday week and is set to stack the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes with up to four of her carnival stars.

Trainer Annabel Neasham (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Zaaki and stablemates Top Ranked, Mo’unga and Laws Of Indices all made their first public appearances for 2022 at Monday’s Rosehill barrier trials and Neasham said on Sky Thoroughbred Central at this stage the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) on March 5 is shaping as the starting point for each.

They'll all likely trial again in a couple of weeks before a resumption, where Zaaki is currently equal $3.50 favourite in the Canterbury.

“He could nearly go to the Apollo off one trial but I think I’d rather have two and have him ready to go first-up,’’ Neasham said of Zaaki.

“The 1300m is the shortest I’d have had him over but the way he won over 1400m first-up last prep I think it’d be good to see if he can do it over a slightly shorter trip.”

In the 900m trial won by Embracer, Zaaki finished eighth and five lengths from the winner with Laws Of Indices just ahead of him.

The seven-year-old hasn’t raced since winning the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) in November in Melbourne and is likely to only have three starts in the autumn with the All Star Mile and Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) his other targets.

“He was super, he was pretty fresh. He often is in his first trial,’’ she said.

“It was just what we wanted to see. He jumped at the crossing at the end, he’s full of life. To me it looks like he’s coming up really well.”

Laws Of Indices made his debut for Neasham in the Golden Eagle (1500m) at the end of October and finished a gallant fifth behind I’m Thunderstruck after racing wide throughout.

Tommy Berry rode the four-year-old in the Eagle and said he was noticeably more settled in Monday’s gallop and that’s something that pleased Neasham too.

“He was a little bit keen in the Golden Eagle and didn’t get cover so it was nice to see him relax and do his best work late,’’ she said.

Import Top Ranked and dual Group 1 winner Mo’unga appeared in the 900m heat won by Wild Ruler over Nature Strip and were fourth and eighth respectively at the finish.

The grey Top Ranked made his local debut with a third in the $1m The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle in November having started 12 times in Europe all over the mile journey.

“I’m getting to know him better, it still is early days, but he’s actually a very straightforward horse, a strong travelling horse and a big powerhouse,’’ she said.

“His form in Europe makes him exciting here, his run in the Hunter was very good and I can’t wait for the autumn with him.”

The Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on Golden Slipper day is firming as Mo’unga’s second-up aim and Neasham said his trial showed her he’s in for another successful preparation.

The four-year-old beat Verry Elleegant to win the Winx Stakes first-up in the spring and recorded Group 1 placings in the Makybe Diva and Mackinnon Stakes.

“Mo’unga is never a superstar at the trials but that was the best I’ve seen him trial first-up, he was super through the line,’’ she said.

That duo are $15 with TAB in the Group 1 $3m Doncaster Mile on Day 1 of The Star Championships.

While Zaaki may be missing from the Apollo, Kerry Parker and Brad Widdup are sending their respective stable stars Think It Over and Icebath into the weight-for-age race first-up.

Think It Over had an amazing spring with four wins from six starts and collected a $1 million bonus for claiming the Hill Stakes, Craven Plate and Rosehill Gold Cup treble.

Zaaki and Laws Of Indices trial at Rosehill on January 31

Jockey Nash Rawiller said on Sky he believes the gelding should not be forgotten when it comes to the Group 2 feature on February 12 after he ran fourth behind Riodini in a 1000m trial.

“It was a lovely trial this morning and will top him right off for the Apollo,’’ he said.

“Normally you’d be thinking he will run well with not winning but he’s giving the right signs to say he will be very competitive. He’s just trained on, he’s one of those horses that has grown in confidence as he’s gone along.”

Icebath, winner of the inaugural $2m The Invitation in the spring, settled out the back in the same trial as Think It Over and warmed up late to run eighth with Widdup saying Monday’s gallop was all she needed before a resumption.

The Doncaster Mile (Icebath is $15) is on Widdup’s mind again after she was narrowly beaten by Cascadian last year.

“We’ve been very patient with her, she’s obviously run in some very good races and she’s relatively lightly raced and she’s in terrific order,’’ he said.

“I’d rather just go weight-for-age 1400m (first-up) and see how we go. There’s a lot of good races here in Sydney and I’m sure she will pop up somewhere.”

All the results and replays from Monday's Rosehill trials