Zacinto team hoping for big year

The team behind Zacinto are "positive" going into tomorrow's feature race, the totesport.com Juddmonte Lockinge at Newbury.

Always highly regarded, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained son of Dansili was denied a tilt at last year's 2000 Guineas through injury.

He returned to action with a victory in a Listed race at Goodwood and before heading back to the Sussex venue to win the Group Two Celebration Mile.

His best performance arguably came in defeat when he was beaten just over a length by Rip Van Winkle in the QEII at Ascot, but he ended the season on a downbeat note in the Breeders' Cup in America.

Connections were quick to put a line through that effort though and hopes are high Prince Khalid Abdullah's colt can have a big season.

"We're very positive, especially after the way he has been working," said Teddy Grimthorpe, Abdullah's racing manager.

"He's had a much more straightforward programme this winter and we're really happy with him.

"Thereafter, he would most likely go for the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot."

The main stumbling block to Zacinto is undoubtedly Richard Hannon's Paco Boy.

A winner of 10 of his 17 races and over £700,000 in prize money, the five-year-old was a beaten favourite in the race last year but the general consensus is he was not at his best that day.

He is versatile enough to win a Queen Anne Stakes over a mile and finish fourth in the six-furlong July Cup, but Hannon is keen to see him establish himself as the leading miler this season after an easy victory at Sandown first time out.

"Paco Boy has been a real star for us and I honestly think that he is better than ever this season," he said.

"He improved through the winter, and I am sure that giving him a long break after he finished second to Rip Van Winkle in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood was the right thing to do.

"He did so well in the spring and was screaming for a race and that is why we took in the Sandown Mile en-route to the Lockinge.

"True, he was well treated by the race conditions as he got in with no penalty, but he could not have been more impressive.

"He travels so well in his races and has a terrific turn of foot when he switches off early on.

"Forget last year's Lockinge. He started favourite and finished a disappointing fourth behind Virtual.

"However, we were not happy with him on the morning of the race and were in two minds whether to run.

"He did not fire as he can, but he came back with an infected hoof and it must have affected his performance.

"This time around everything has gone smoothly and he deserves to be a hot favourite.

"I never take anything for granted and there are no easy Group Ones but though Zacinto was second to Rip Van Winkle in the QE II at Ascot, I would not swap my fellow for anything.

"I hope and think he'll win," he told www.richardhannonracing.tv.

Another Royal Ascot winner last season was Barry Hills' Ouqba, who claimed the Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs.

Owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, connections have warned not to underestimate his challenge.

"Ouqba is a smashing little horse and I think he's been a little bit under rated," said Angus Gold, the Sheikh's racing manager.

"I'm not saying he's going to go and beat Paco Boy but he's a very nice horse and won the Free Handicap well last year.

"He won the Jersey Stakes at Ascot despite stumbling at the start and striking into himself quite badly.

"There couldn't be a more genuine horse and he was unlucky to be beaten at Newmarket at the back end.

"Barry has been happy with him and says he's in good shape, so hopefully he can go and run a good race."