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By Ray Hickson

She’s one of the ‘big guns’ for next month’s Newhaven Park Central Districts Country Championship so the importance of Zoo Station's assignment at Warwick Farm on Wednesday isn’t lost on jockey Anthony Cavallo.

Jockey Anthony Cavallo (Pic: Steve Hart)

The Buy Better At Inglis Classic Handicap (1400m) is a crucial race for the five-year-old, trained by Gayna Williams, who won her way out of Highway grade with an impressive first-up win at Rosehill on January 9.

Cavallo said while Williams is preparing Zoo Station to be at her top for the Mudgee event on February 27 he’d like to see her figure in the finish against some solid midweek city competition to confirm she’s on track.

“It’s a stepping stone for the Championship in four weeks so it’s an ideal race for her,’’ Cavallo said.

“I think she’s come on since Rosehill, she went well the other day and she seems to be stepping up. She’s a very relaxed thing and just seems to take it all in her stride.

“It’s the same trip as the Country Championship race. I’d be disappointed if she didn’t finish in the first five and I’d be happy with that.

“I think Gayna knows a bit more about her know, she doesn’t work her too hard, and she’s more or less a fresh horse that’s why it will suit her four weeks to the Country Championships.”

Zoo Station, $4.40 with TAB on Tuesday, has won four of her nine starts and showed her trademark sprint in winning over 1200m fresh with race best sectionals of a last 600m of 34.20 on a soft 7 and last 200m of 11.45 (Punter’s Intelligence).

Cavallo said her second-up performances haven't been bad but she faces a very different task from gate 11 of 12 at the Warwick Farm 1400m even though it’s virtually a straight run to the home turn.

But he has a plan that if it unfolds will play to the mare’s strengths.

“It’s not ideal, at Warwick Farm they can tend to steady up a bit so it’s probably not in her favour,’’ he said.

“There could be a chance we could be a touch closer if they don’t go too quick. Once you make a move on her she’s got a turn of foot.

“I wouldn’t be disappointed if I’m three deep with cover as long as you’re getting a trek into the race. It’s worse when you have something in front of you stopping.”

One of Zoo Station’s rivals on Wednesday is the Matthew Dale-trained Molly Nails, who resumed with a track record breaking win at Moruya and is bound for the Newhaven Park South East Country Championships at Nowra on February 13.

Zoo Station wins at Rosehill on January 8

Meanwhile, Jailbreak returns to Warwick Farm after a third placing behind Broken Arrows three weeks ago and Cavallo said he shouldn’t be underestimated in the Stud And Stable Staff Awards Handicap (1200m).

Formerly with Kody Nestor, Jailbreak has had two starts for Williams and Cavallo, who travels from Mudgee to Bathurst once a week to ride work for the trainer, said he’s still a work in progress.

“Gayna’s a different trainer to Kody, she’s doing a bit longer work and we’re trying to stretch him out to the 1400m,’’ he said.

“He didn’t get much room when he straightened the other day, he had to shove his way through a bit, you just want that extra half of horse of room and city jocks aren’t going to give that to you.

“He needs the speed on if you’re going to take a sit because he’s a rolling horse.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting