Craig KerryMay 28, 2026 — 5:00pmAt the Rosehill meeting this time last year, Dylan Gibbons rode a late winning double featuring a three and a half-length benchmark 78 handicap victory from a promising Victorian stayer.He had just one more ride, a second at the same track two weeks later, before the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours went on to later claim the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double with Jamie Melham aboard.Zambardo wins at Caulfield on October 15.Racing Photos via Getty Images“What he did that day, it takes a good horse to do, so I thought he’d progress through the grades, but it was a fair effort for him to do it as quickly as he did,” Gibbons said.On Saturday, Gibbons hopes Zambardo can prove one to follow out of the meeting when he gets a second chance on the impressive import in the listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m).The former Kiwi raced through the grades last preparation for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr, peeling off four consecutive wins from a maiden breakthrough before finishing second to Via Sistina in the group 1 Champion Stakes (2000m) on a heavy Flemington track in November.Dylan Gibbons riding Half Yours to victory last year on the Lord Mayors Cup program at Rosehill.Getty ImagesZambardo returned with ninth in a 1400m benchmark 100 at Randwick, then sixth with Gibbons in the saddle in the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at Gosford. Both results were from runs back in the field and wide gates.Gibbons was impressed with Zambardo’s powerful finish at the tight Gosford track on May 9 to end up 1.8 lengths off the winner, and he expected to be closer to the action at Rosehill after drawing gate two.“He’s a monster so he was never really going to appreciate Gosford, especially when he had to go back in a slow-run race with a sprint home,” he said.“It was tricky to do, but obviously his ability got him as close as he did.“It’s good that he’s finally got a gate and hopefully we can go back to how he was ridden from better gates deep into a preparation last time, which is in the first couple of pairs. That always makes it easier for you, so I was glad to see him draw a good gate.”Connections, including AFL legend Leigh Matthews, hope Zambardo can show on Saturday that he is ready for a shot at the $1.2 million Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm in two weeks, and Gibbons was keen to stay on. Kent jnr labelled Zambardo the stable’s most likely next group 1 winner.“They’ve been pretty good to me thus far, without riding that many for them raceday,” Gibbons said the Price-Kent jnr stable.“I’ve done a bit of track work for them and they are very easygoing and a very enjoyable stable to ride for.“I’ve been fortunate to get on one of their nicer ones, so hopefully I can just go out and get a result for them.”Another positive for the $3.80 TAB favourite was a likely heavy track on Saturday. Rosehill was a heavy 10 rating on Thursday morning after copping 25.5mm the previous 24 hours, and more rain was expected before raceday.The wet track should also suit Shangri La Impact ($7), which Gibbons rides in the fourth, a benchmark 78 handicap (1800m), for Randwick trainer Tom Charlton.The four-year-old has two victories and a second in three tries on heavy going and was a last-start winner for Gibbons on the Kensington track in 72 grade over the same trip.“Her work during the week says that she’s going great,” Gibbons said.“Tom has her in really good order and she’s obviously only been beaten once this preparation.“She’s won half her starts and she’s got a great racing style, bowling along in front. The way she seems to be relishing her work and going about her business, there’s no reason we can’t go into Saturday with some confidence.”Another that could appreciate give in the track is Nathan Doyle-trained Super Bright ($31) in the eighth, a fillies and mares benchmark 78 (1200m). Gibbons has taken the seven-year-old to four of her six career wins.“I’ve been fortunate to have a fair bit of luck with her and five of her six wins have been on soft ground, and I do remember riding her on a bottomless track at Canterbury and she nearly won, so wet is no issue for her,” he said.“She’s as honest as the day is long, so looking forward to getting back on her.”From our partners