Zalty© Photo Healy Racing
David Marnane believes it is worth trying Zalty at five furlongs now he is getting into the habit of sprinting.
The County Tipperary handler was delighted with the four-year-old's effort in running Ayr Gold Cup favourite Watchable to a head in the 'Bold Lad' Sprint Handicap over six furlongs at the Curragh on Sunday.
That was the latest in a series of notable efforts by Zalty that also includes being narrowly beaten by Line Of Reason over the same course and distance in June, and finishing a two and a quarter lengths fourth to Saturday's Portland scorer Muthmir at York in July.
Marnane will consider a five-furlong race at the Curragh later this month, as well as the Coral Sprint Trophy back at York next month.
"He ran a cracker, but didn't quite get there again. He has run some tremendous races over the straight six this year," he said.
"He's very consistent. He's come out of the race fantastically well and we are excited about him.
"What I liked about him on Sunday was it was the first time in a sprint that he jumped and travelled really well. It takes time for them to learn how to be professional and that race was the first time I'd seen him be like that.
"He's a six-furlong horse, we know that, and I will speak to his owner. He has two options. There's a five-furlong race at the Curragh on Sunday week. Dropping him back in trip would be testing the waters.
"I'd like to take him to Dubai and they have put him up a few of pounds to 98. I wouldn't run him on the sand in Dubai but there would be turf races for him over five furlongs, so we might run him over that trip on Sunday week.
"If he showed up well in that then he could be Dubai-bound. If he didn't show up well we'd give him the winter off and we'd bring him back for all those big races over six furlongs next year.
"The way he travelled the other day he could go back to five. They do get quicker as they get older.
"There's also a race at York in three weeks' time, but the only question would be the ground. He's a top of the ground horse so we'd just be gambling on the ground for that.
"A run at the Curragh is probably on the cards."
