Zambardo’s stern Stakes test

The in-form four-year-old will take on reigning Australian Horse of the Year, Via Sistina, in this Saturday's $3 million Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes.

Price bypassed a benchmark 90 race at the same track on Oaks Day, for which Zambardo was a short-priced favourite, for a meeting with the 11-time Group 1 winner in the 2000-metre event.

"I think we can go back to a benchmark 90 race any time," Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jr, said.

"It's run number six for him this prep – he's had a very good prep – and I just wanted to try him in that race as I want better horses in front of him.

"At Caulfield, and in a few other races, as soon as he hits the front he clocks off. We'll ride him cold and let him finish off.

"I would think, on all facts and figures, he's entitled to his long odds, but if he did run a place and get his rating up it sort of sets him up for the autumn to run in some better races.

"I think he is a nice horse, so I thought I'd make his last run 'chips in'."

Zambardo heads into the Champions Stakes off a benchmark 78 win over 2000m at Caulfield, having won an 1800m benchmark 66 at Sandown, a 1728m benchmark 62 at Sale and a 1600m Pakenham maiden at his previous three starts.

He has placed at his only other three starts and has career earnings of $148,838 but under the weight-for-age conditions of the Champions Stakes has to give 1.5kg to Via Sistina, who heads in off a second-straight Cox Plate success that swelled her earnings to a tick over $17.5m.

Zambardo will start to the immediate inside of the champion mare in gate nine, with Tuesday's Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham to take the ride.

Zambardo is owned in similar interests to Price and Kent's other runner, Golden Path, who comes off a second placing in the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley and Price said barrier four gives him the chance to run up to his best.

"He's proven he's not good enough (at this level) most times, but he's fit, well and drawn a good gate, so he'll do his best and it'll be what it'll be," Price said.