It wasn’t the homecoming he coveted, but champion jockey Mark Zahra is keen to have another shot at claiming Group 1 honours in Perth when he returns on Saturday.
Zahra was aboard Democracy Manifest in last fortnight’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and was virtually a passenger with the Chris Waller-trained six-year-old unable to get into the race at any stage, finishing a luckless 14th to Port Lockroy.
From the widest barrier (16) Democracy Manifest settled near last in the Railway Stakes and was never tested in the straight, but Zahra is more than willing to stick and feels the son of Flying Artie has more to give in the Tabtouch Northerly Stakes (1800m).
“He’s not the best horse away so I ended up in a position where I was back,” Zahra said on Tabradio.
“I got onto the back of Light Infantry Man, but he didn’t get a massive crack at them either.
“He wasn’t fully tested, so I went to the line with something in hand.
“We were under no illusion before the race drawn terribly, but as long as he hit the line strong, we wanted a horse in two weeks’ time as well.
“When I got off him I said right, I’m happy to come back and amend for that.
“I wasn’t booked to ride him because I’m riding Hong Kong Sunday and I was going earlier this week, but he went pretty good and I thought I have to come back.
“I was keen to put myself back in and the 1800m will suit him any better.
“Hopefully we can get the money this time.”
Zahra hopes the final Group 1 of the Australian year is the entrée before a strong book of rides 24 hours later in the Longines Hong Kong International Raceday.
Sunday’s meet includes reuniting with last year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) hero, Without A Fight, in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), on the comeback trail after injury.
The eight-year-old was off the scene for a year after the Melbourne Cup, but showed positive signs when first up third to Via Sistina in last month’s Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).
“To run third in a race like that, I was rapt,” Zahra said.
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
“I was stoked.”
Democracy Manifest can give Waller his second Northerly Stakes after Moriarty defeated Disposition and Elite Belle for Grant and Alana Williams in 2014.
The Williamses could be the stumbling block for the Waller and Zahra combination with their classy Overshare filly Storyville the current $5 favourite.
Democracy Manifest and Attrition, two of five interstate raiders are on the next line at $5.50.
Storyville is chasing a third straight feature after a sensational turn of foot to claim the Champion Fillies Stakes(1600m) and WA Guineas (1600m) double.
The Williamses are the most successful trainers of the Northerly Stakes with four winners: Regal Power (2021), Truly Great (2020), Arcadia Queen (2018) and Perfect Reflection (2015).
Julio Santarelli