Zaaki has bounced back from the disappointment of a last-minute Cox Plate scratching with a dominant win in the Mackinnon Stakes on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
It capped off a brilliant week for star jockey James McDonald, who broke Brett Prebble's record of nine wins across the carnival, picking up his 10th aboard Zaaki.
Cascadian finished a length second while Mo'unga was a further two lengths back in third.
Check out the finish below.
Zaaki lets rip and wins the Paramount+ Mackinnon Stakes! And it's history for James McDonald with his record-breaking 10th win at the #MelbCupCarnival #StakesDay pic.twitter.com/JnaQMNBwUz
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) November 6, 2021
Fittingly, Prebble, who rode nine winners over Cup week in 1999 and 2000, was there to congratulate McDonald, having piloted Cascadian to second.
The performance of Zaaki will leave connections ruing the bad luck which saw the horse scratched from the Cox Plate with an elevated temperature on the morning of the race.
Drawn two in from the outside, McDonald took Zaaki to the lead and was never put under any real pressure from Homesman in second place.
When Zaaki was asked to go off the bend, the Annabel Neasham-trained gelding responded brilliantly, lengthening well to extend his lead.
Cascadian closed strongly but the race was well and truly over by the 200m.
James McDonald's Cup week wins
Coolmore Stud Stakes* - Home Affairs ($5)
Carbine Club Stakes - Fangirl ($2)
Hotham Stakes - Great House ($3.60)
Furphy Sprint - Minhaaj ($3.70)
The Schweppervescence Plate - Profiteer ($2.20)
Melbourne Cup - Verry Elleegant ($18)
Twitter Trophy - Djukon ($4.80)
Desirable Stakes - Espiona ($1.35)
Darley Sprint Classic* - Nature Strip ($1.28)
Mackinnon Stakes* - Zaaki ($2.30)
*Group 1
