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Whateley praises Zahra's Derby Day performances
SEN Track • November 1st, 2025 7:27 pm
Gerard Whateley has reacted to Observer’s win in the Victoria Derby on Saturday, which saw him give plenty of praise to jockey Mark Zahra.
The three-year-old bay colt, who came into the 2500 metre race as favourite, led for the majority of the race.
And despite a challenge from Arcora on the home straight, the Ciaron Maher-trained horse would pull away to claim victory.
This would see Zahra claim his fourth race in a row for the day which has included two Group 1s in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Victoria Derby.
And he thinks that today's performance has been one of Zahra's best days as a a jockey.
“How thrilling to see him go to the front,” Whateley said on SEN Track.
“He did string them out a bit on the riverside…
“I doubt he is a 2500m horse, but he was the absolute class of the race.
“For Mark Zahra, this is going to become a day that we talk about.
“That’s four in a row on Derby Day and the first two of the Group 1s, the sprint and the distance race for the three-year-olds.
“Both for Godolphin, so this is a career day for Mark Zahra in the offing and for Ciaron Maher, who’s so good with these distance horses.”
