Trainer Annabel Neasham has snared the services of Jamie Kah to ride Zaaki in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday as the high-profile jockey makes her return to race riding this week.

After a pleasing trial at Rosehill over 900-metres last Friday with Kah aboard, Neasham has decided that Zaaki is ready for a race day return this weekend rather than waiting a fortnight to start in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m), the event that the now eight-year-old had kicked off his spring campaigns over the past two years.

“He’s come back as well as ever,” Neasham told RSN.

“I don’t know if I want to dare saying it but I don’t think I’ve had him going any better, ever.

“He’s flying and his trial was really good on Friday.

“After it, Jamie felt that he was ready to go.”

Zaaki’s winter campaign was curtailed after an unplaced performance in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in May and followed a third-straight win the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) a month earlier.

“He had a gallop at the races a couple of weeks ago and he was a bit of a handful but that is usually when he is at his best,” Neasham added.

“We’d be mad not to be looking at the Winx Stakes on Saturday.”

The Chris Waller-trained Fangirl holds favouritism at $3.50 for the first group one race of the season with Zaaki on the second line of betting at $4.50 with boombet.com.au.