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By Tony Megahey

A horse trained within a "lion’s roar" of the Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo could bring down the might of J-Mac's booking for TAB Highway (1200m) favourite Steplee at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Zoo Station ($16 into $14 on TAB) was an impressive Highway winner at Rosehill Gardens last preparation; the Animal Kingdom mare being prepared by Bathurst’s Gayna Williams.

Zoo Station (Regan Bayliss) powers to victory at Rosehill Gardens. Image by Bradley Photographers

The horse will take on $3.10 favourite Steplee to be ridden by the all-conquering James McDonald and prepared by top country trainer Rodney Northam.

Zoo Station, a five-year-old, has the imposing record of three wins and as many placings from eight starts, indicating Newhaven Park Country Championships potential. Precisely Gayna’s target this prep.

Zoo Station is drawn inside and was primed by a recent Bathurst barrier trial win with Anthony Cavallo aboard, his only ride on Saturday and 54kg the same as winning that late June Highway. There she came from midfield and was dominant at 1400m.

While Saturday’s distance is short of her preferred distance range, she has fresh form, the balance of talent and tenacity, and is at nice odds.

“She's definitely come back a stronger mare - Anthony trialled her and rides her work and we’re both really happy looking towards this race,” Gayna enthused.

“Her best is further, but she does race well fresh and at this stage of her prep she’ll be competitive at ‘1200’. She's always in anything.”

“Drawn in is really important as she will get back, we’ll be looking to find a position.

"There’s generally good tempo in these races and if they string out in a big field, that will help her as well. But she’s just unbelievably genuine.”

Rod Northam’s promising Steplee is a dual winner and is resuming on 56kg.

Significantly, Northam has his premiership apprentice Reece Jones, who rode a double at “The Farm” on Wednesday, on three-race winning stablemate Unpredicted ($61).

While it’s early days for Steplee - by Sidestep out of Marlee Dancer, a winning Marwina dam - queries do emerge at short odds.

In Steplee’s wins at Scone over 1300m and Muswellbrook at 1500m, a back-marker pattern emerged. He was near last and powered late with 60kg and 61kg and on wet tracks.

On Saturday, he’s resuming, back in distance, jumps a grade in a capacity 16-horse field and a wide draw.

Early scratchings from outside barriers are Air Marshall, Tidal Rush and The Snooperstar with 'The Gardens' a Heavy 8 at present after plenty of overnight rain.

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