‘Just keep a lid on it’: Zahra wins four on Derby Day but wants more as cup carnival continues
Mark Zahra enjoyed an extraordinary Victoria Derby Day at Flemington, claiming four victories, including the feature race with Observer, under perfect spring conditions. His wins also included two prestigious Group 1 races — the Victoria Derby and the Coolmore Stud Stakes — in front of a crowd of 86,112 spectators.
Reflections on the day
“I can’t even remember what I won on first... it was good to have two winners on the board. So full of confidence heading into Tentyris. And I thought he was my best ride today. He’s just improved and improved and won the big one, you start to think, can I do it again? And then Observer just led all the way.”
Family reactions
Zahra shared a light-hearted look into his family’s response to his success at Flemington.
“I just tell [my wife Elyse] I’ll meet you in the yard after. But she’s pretty fired up about today. I’ve told her it’s day one for the carnival, so we’ve just got to relax, get through the rest of the week first.”
“[My daughter] asked if I had a winner or not, but she’d rather watch Gabby’s Dollhouse than the races at the moment. She does like when I bring her home a trophy. So I’ve got a few to hand over for her tonight.”
Looking ahead
The carnival continues as Zahra keeps his focus on maintaining form through the week, eyeing more potential wins at the Melbourne Cup Day and beyond.
Author’s summary
Mark Zahra’s four wins on Victoria Derby Day highlight his dominant form, while he stays grounded and ready for the challenges still ahead during the spring racing carnival.