Zahra has Gold Trip feel with Middle Earth

Zahra did a lot of the early work on Middle Earth when he initially arrived at Ciaron Maher's stable, winning the Australian Cup Prelude on the gelding at his Australian debut. 

After partnering Middle Earth in last year's Caulfield Cup, Zahra made the decision to switch to Al Riffa in the Melbourne Cup, ultimately costing the jockey the ride on Middle Earth for the best part of 12 months. 

As fate would have it, Middle Earth went on to run third in last year's Cup with Al Riffa in seventh place, but Zahra is more than happy to get back in the saddle for Tuesday's 3200m contest at Flemington. 

"I jumped off him to ride Al Riffa last year and I think the owners weren't happy, so I got a year ban, but I'm back on now," Zahra said. 

"He ran well when I rode him in the Turnbull in a hard race and he's going along nicely." 

Zahra feels there is a touch of Gold Trip about Middle Earth heading towards the Cup. 

Gold Trip gave Zahra the first of back-to-back Cup wins when successful in 2022. 

Middle Earth, like Gold Trip, ran in the Cox Plate before the Melbourne Cup and sported blinkers, like Gold Trip, and will wear the headgear in Tuesday's race. 

Zahra was sidelined the result of his Caulfield Cup fall when Middle Earth ran in the Cox Plate but watched intently from home. 

"I was watching a few that day, hoping they didn't win, but I was watching him and hoping he would run well," Zahra said. 

"He didn't win, but I thought he ran well. 

"It was a different level of race to what he ran in last year (JRA Cup), but what I wanted to see was him hitting the line. 

"I think Ciaron ran the same path the year Gold Trip won, blinkers on in the Cox Plate and then up to the Melbourne Cup and Ciaron has set him specifically for this race after he won at Eagle Farm in the winter. 

"I like the planning for the horse. He ran third in it last year and is in it with a great chance." 

Zahra is a big race rider and combined with Maher to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) with The Next Episode at Flemington on Saturday. 

But he said victory in the Melbourne Cup is another level. 

"I think once you have success in the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup and these big races, you long for that feeling," Zahra said. 

"Going to Flemington, you look around, the numbers, it gets me right up and about. 

"It's a race you want to win and once you've achieved it, you become confident and you really embrace these big days."