Zac De Boss is a year older but the targets remain the same for the Flemington specialist.
The five-year-old will tackle Saturday’s Country Achiever Wayne Nichols (1100m) in attempt to win the race for the second straight year.
The Simon Zahra-trained sprinter claimed victory in the 2022 race, which was named in honour of Echuca trainer Gwenda Johnstone, before the gelding ran in the Listed All Victorian Sprint Final last July.
Zac De Boss ran fourth in his winter finale last year but the gelding’s form convinced Zahra to target the same races this year, but off a shorter preparation.
“He’d probably had enough by the time that race came around so we’ve done a few different things with him,” Zahra said.
“He spelled a lot better and looked good so we’re thinking he can get back to his best form.”
Zac De Boss should have finished closer to the winner than his first-up seventh in Benchmark 90 grade at Flemington on May 20.
Trainer Simon Zahra will aim Zac De Boss at the Listed All Victorian Sprint Series Final at Flemington next month. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.
Zahra said Zac De Boss peaked on his run late with 58.5kg on his back but will be fitter and will enjoy a 4.5kg weight drop for Saturday’s $150,000 assignment.
“He probably needed the run so he had a good blow,” Zahra said.
“He comes in pretty well at the weights, even though Matthew can’t claim, compared to where he was last start.
“He likes the straight, he likes the cut in the ground but not too much. I think this looks a nice race for him again.
“He’s not going to get any better but if he gets back to the form he was in last year, he’ll be hard to beat.”
TAB posted Zac De Boss at $11 in opening betting but support for the sprinter pushed him into $7.50.
The Peter Moody-trained Sigh is the $2.40 favourite for the Country Achiever Wayne Nichols after her first-up win down the straight on May 20.
Sigh will jump from a Benchmark 70 to an Open Handicap with apprentice Carleen Hefel in the saddle.