Trainer Bjorn Baker admitted he had to do a double take when, sporting the same colours as superstar galloper Zaaki, outsider Arapaho annihilated his rivals at Rosehill.
The pair is raced by some of the same owners but while Zaaki’s scheduled assignment in the Doomben Cup was postponed due to a water-logged track in Brisbane, Arapaho did his best to channel the multiple Group 1 winner by making a mess of his rivals in the Fujitsu General Handicap (1800m).
“They are very prominent colours and Zaaki was scratched today, but I got a bit confused at the 200 (metres),” Baker quipped.
“He has shown a lot. We thought he was going to be topclass, he was a stakes performer (in France) but he obviously just loved the wet track.
“Really dominant win. The owners have been patient, we’ve got some great people in this horse and I hope they kept loyal today because he was a great price.”
Arapaho started at $20 and revelled in the heavy 9 conditions to street Perfect Radiance by 7-3/4 lengths with another 3-1/2 lengths to Rebel Rama in third.
Arapaho was handled by apprentice Dylan Gibbons, who made the most of a rare Saturday opportunity in town.
However, Gibbons, who is indentured to top Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, indicated he might become a more frequent visitor to Sydney while many of the top jockeys are plying their trade in Queensland for the winter carnival.
“The plans were to wait as long as we can before coming to Sydney fulltime,” Gibbons said.
“We are taking it week by week, there are no set plans but if things start going well, like that horse, you can’t stop momentum so if I get on a roll I might as well stay.”