Todd Pollard leans to Kintyre

By Glenn Davis

Talented mare Zuleika is set to make her comeback as part of a three-pronged attack from trainer Todd Pollard in the Listed Tattersall’s Members Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

But, while Pollard believes Zuleika is set for a bright future in Queensland, he has given punters a lead with a preference for stablemate Kintyre over Zuleika and his other starter, Space Tracker.

“There’s probably a case for all three of them to run well,” Pollard declared.

“But, I’d have to lean to Kintyre as Zuleika is first-up over 1400 metres and is looking to get over a trip.”

Zuleika led all the way at her only start for Pollard to win the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown over 2100 metres at Eagle Farm in June.

The four-year-old daughter of North Pacific was left with Pollard following her Queensland Oaks campaign for Victorian trainer Henry Dwyer.

Zuleika won three of her nine starts for Dwyer and won over 2020 metres against her own age in her Queensland debut at Doomben in April.

She then finished sixth in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and eighth in the Group 2 The Roses at Doomben before running in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, where she finished back in the field behind the Ciaron Maher-trained Fireball Miss.

“I was lucky enough to get her after Henry (Dwyer) thought she’d be better placed up here,” Pollard said.

“This is a nice race for her to kick off her campaign and she’ll progress over longer trips as she goes through her preparation.

“I’ve only had her for one start when she won the Tatt’s Crown.”

Pollard is undecided about Zuleika’s immediate future over the summer and will be guided by her next start over 1600 metres at Doomben on October 24.

“All options are open with her and a mile race in two weeks will dictate where she’ll go later on,” he said.

Pollard once believed Zuleika would run 3200 metres, but is now not as certain.

“She was quite sharp in her Deagon trial when she finished fourth, which suggests she might not be as dour as I first thought,” he said.

Pollard believes Kintyre is primed for a strong performance following the six-year-old’s last-start second to the Tony Gollan-trained Warby over 1400 metres at the Gold Coast on September 19.

“I’d have to just favour Kintyre as the pick of my three,” Pollard said.

“I’ve only had Kintyre for two runs when he won at Eagle Farm, then he was nosed out in a photo at the Gold Coast.

“He’s won his only two starts at Eagle Farm, so it’s hard to knock him going into this race.”

Pollard also expects Space Tracker to run a cheeky race following his only two placings for the stable, including his latest third to Warby and Kintyre at the Gold Coast.