Zardozi (AUS)

First foal; dam unraced half-sister to 1m2f winners New Chapter and Saigon out of 14.5f Group 2 (Park Hill) winner Silk Sari, is granddaughter of unraced half-sister to Racing Post Trophy winner Ibn Khaldun; made winning debut in 6f Gosford maiden plate in March 2023 and then picked up a 6f 110yd heavy-ground handicap at Hawkesbury; followed up at Hawkesbury (7f, good to soft) in April; held (eased when beaten) in Group 2 over 6f at Randwick on next start in August; same outcome over 7f at that venue in September and at Sandown in October (also 7f) but back to winning form in Group 2 over 1m at Flemington in October; beaten a short head in another Group 2 over 10f at same course the following month; went one better in a Group 1 over 12.5f just a few days later; held in another Group 1 over 7f when next seen in March 2024 but back to winning form in Group 2 at Rosehill (7.5f) later that month; sound third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud upped to 1m2f and ran another cracker when second in a Group 1 over 1m4f in April and not disgraced in Group 1 Winx Stakes (7f) on return from break in August; touched off in Group 1 handicap at Randwick (1m4f) three starts later in October and then took a fine fourth in the Caulfield Cup; caught the eye in the Empire Rose a few days before the Melbourne Cup and duly built on that by finishing fourth in the big race, beaten just over 1l.