Pressonregardless gives Craig Zackey a treble and takes him to 201 wins for the season (JC Photos)
Craig Zackey reached the 200 wins mark for the season on Sunday at Turffontein Standside when the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Querari gelding Best Candidate came from the clouds to win a Maiden over 1400m and he later made it 201 for the season when the decent David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Lancaster Bomber gelding Pressonregardless won a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m.
In all three of his wins on the day Zackey displayed his oustanding judgement of pace.
In his first win he was aboard the Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained two-year-old Master Of My Fate filly Doesyourmotherknow in a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1400m.
The filly had over-raced a bit in her previous start, but that did not stop Zackey from taking her to the front.
It was his first race ride on her and he had her nice and relaxed on a long rein.
She looked in trouble, to some, when the market rival, the grey Impressive, who had also relaxed well in the running, swept past her at the 400m mark still in the hands.
However, Zackey had left plenty in reserve. Doesyourmotherknow fought back and in the end won going away by 1,75 lentths.
In the next race over the same course and distance Zackey relaxed Best Candidate from the off and had him moving comfortably on the rail near the back from draw three.
He only drew the stick at about the 300m mark, despite the second favourite Quevano having caught the leader Brave Waam and looking the winner some lengths ahead. However, Best Candidate made up the ground relentlessly and got up in the last stride to win by 0,30 lengths.
In the next race over 1600m Zackey found himself one out and one back without cover on Pressonregardless, but managed to relax him on a beautiful long rein.
The gelding had no cover in the straight either but showed his class by stretching way from the fancied Kisshoten and then under strong urgings followed by a deft change of whiphand he managed to repel the challenge of Sunset Riot to win by 1,20 lengths.
Zackey was second favourite for the title behind Richard Fourie for a long time this season, despite leading virtually throughout, but with a relentless travel regime and highly skilled and consistent riding he has slowly built up a lead on the great rider and is now 48 wins ahead of him.
He is now a 1/10 shot for the title with Fourie at 3/1.
There is just three months and ten days left of the season.
