What Makes Zack Monelli A Western Wonder

ZACK Monelli will stay in Melbourne after he contests Saturday's G1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers Final at The Meadows but he is unlikely to race.

ZACK Monelli will stay in Melbourne after he contests Saturday night's Group 1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers Final (715m) at The Meadows but he is unlikely to race.

WA trainer Dave Hobby said semen would be collected from the son of Barcia Bale and Penny Monelli at Sandown Vet Clinic before he returns home with the Group 1 WA Galaxy his prime target.

Zack Monelli, lucky to be racing after overcoming two serious injuries during his career, goes into Saturday night's $100,000-to-the-winner final as the fastest heat winner.

“He will need to lead in the final to win because he is not really a true stayer,” said Hobby.

“He is more a sprinter, middle distance dog.”

Lyn Smith prepares the dog while in Victoria.

“Lyn says the dog has pulled up well after the heat win,” said Hobby.

Zack Monelli already has a litter of pups, now three months old, from former star sprinter Freida Monelli (Fernando Bale-Bingle Monelli) a litter sister to Group 1 Perth Cup winner Trouper Monelli.

“And there are three of four of them in the litter just like their old man, a real handful to handle at the best of times,” he said.

Zack Monelli had to have 100 stitches put into him after he hit the lure at just his third trial ever.

Then he broke a hock which forced him off the track for over five months. He still races with a screw in the hock.

“At his very first trial back from the hock injury he ran 22.14 for the 405 metres at Mandurah breaking the track record,” said Hobby.

Hobby's slick sprinter Sunset Spitfire (Mepunga Blazer-Sunset Jessie) is on the comeback trail as well.

The winner at 12 of his 13 starts, he has not raced since Boxing Day when pulling up lame at The Meadows in a heat of the Group 1 Silver Chief.

“He had his first handslip just yesterday,” said Hobby.

“X-rays after the run at The Meadows showed he had two chips in his wrist and the vet had to shave them off because they were grafting to the tendon.

“That showed us it was an old injury. We put it down to back at Mandurah in August when he hit the catching pen gate and needed a couple of months to recover.”

Hobby said it would be at least two months before the dog would be seen in a race again.

Stout Monelli (Barcia Bale-Corona Monelli) landed the Hobby kennel the WA Puppy Classic (520m) at Cannington last Saturday night beating West On Brae and Malawi Monelli.

“He's doing everything right at the moment and he beat a good dog in the final on Saturday,” he said.

“There are no plans for him at the moment. I am one of those trainers who takes everything a day at a time.”

Stout Monelli has now won eight of his 12 race starts.

 

Latest News Articles