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By Ray Hickson

Superstar Zaaki and ‘forgotten’ stablemate Top Ranked will ramp up their spring preparations with important barrier trial early next week, while TAB Everest contender Mazu is set to step out publicly for the first time this season.

Trainer Annabel Neasham will send Zaaki and Top Ranked around in 1000m hitout on the course proper at Hawkesbury on Monday, though she said she has an option at Rosehill a day later for her stable star.

Neasham said the fact Zaaki raced on beyond his Queen Elizabeth Stakes second placing, with two starts in Queensland, dissuaded her from kicking off early and though he trialled well at Rosehill on August 12 she’s happy to wait until the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m).

“He’s as good as he’s been, I can’t complain about him at all. He’s basically just bubbling, ready to do something,’’ she said.

“I think if I’d pulled up after the Queen Elizabeth he’d be going to the Winx Stakes.

Zaaki wins the 2021 Tramway Stakes, he's set to resume in the same event on September 3. (Pic: Steve Hart)

“What we’ve been doing with him, two trials in, seems to be working and I haven’t quite dared myself to change his routine.”

Zaaki won the Tramway first-up last spring with 58kg and will likely carry around 59kg when he fronts up on September 3.

He’ll likely progress to the Group 1 $1 million Fujitsu General George Main Stakes (1600m) two weeks later.

“He will carry a bit of weight in the Tramway but it was a nice race to kick him off last year,’’ she said.

“If he goes there in the same vein, which I think he will, he will be very competitive and it gives him a nice springboard into the George Main.”

Top Ranked is arguably the forgotten horse of the Neasham yard, though she points out she certainly hasn’t forgotten about him, and his trial at Hawkesbury will be very much low key.

The grey has raced just twice in Australia for a third behind Lost And Running in The Hunter back in November and a close fifth in Verry Elleegant’s Chipping Norton Stakes in February.

“He’s still quite big in condition. He had that setback on the very wet track but he ran very well,’’ she said.

“We have a long way to go but if we can get him back to what I thought we had with him last preparation I think you will see him in all the better races as well.”

While Monday’s trial will be quiet, Neasham said his second trial two weeks later will be more of a test for the seven-year-old.

Mazu, second favourite for the $15 million TAB Everest, begins his spring with a trial at Rosehill on Tuesday and co-trainer Peter Snowden said the preparation has gone smoothly to date.

The revelation of the autumn with five straight wins including the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, the four-year-old was secured by slot holders The Star & Arrowfield on a two year deal to run in Australia’s richest race.

“He’s been in work a while, he’s had a good base put into him with a lot of slow work to get him nice and settled,’’ Snowden said.

“He’ll have this trial then another two weeks later.”

All the fields for Monday's Hawkesbury barrier trials