“Coming back to Sydney, the same rules would have applied. I would have self-isolated for six days and not seen any of my horses for two weeks.

“At this time of year, you have to work out your priorities. You’re a trainer at the end of the day. Going to the races is great, it’s great to be there, but your work is done come race day.

“I would have missed two weeks of trackwork and working my other horses just to be there.

“Even though I’m not there, I’m hoping my assistant, Todd Pollard, and Raphael Marchelli, who rides the horse every day, they can soak up the atmosphere and enjoy it. They did two weeks’ quarantine to be there.

“I’m not sure where I’ll be. It depends on what runners I’ll have in Sydney. Maybe I might try and find my lucky sofa somewhere.”

Neasham fell in love with the Cox Plate back in 2017 when Winx held off Humidor and will never forget seeing the mighty mare return to scale.

Zaaki was beaten as the short-priced favourite in the Caulfield Stakes last start and jockey Craig Williams was criticised. But Neasham, who welcomes the return of James McDonald aboard Zaaki on Saturday, was not about to pot Williams or the run.

“It’s easy to be a sofa jockey, we’re not the ones out there riding these 500kg animals,” Neasham said.

“Craig rang me and said if he had his time again he would have let him bowl along.

“He’s a brilliant rider, one of the best in the business, who won me a group 1 in the Underwood Stakes [with Zaaki], so I certainly won’t criticise Craig much. It’s a big plus being reunited with James.

Loading

“The horse enjoys pressure, and, while there isn’t a lot of speed on paper, there will be pressure – it’s a Cox Plate. He will need to bring his A-game. He’s coming off the back of a sub-par run. There’s no reason he can’t bounce back. He will suit the Valley, and he’s peaking for this weekend.”

Neasham was sent a video of Zaaki and stablemate Mo’unga working at the Valley. Mounga is not noted for being spritely in the mornings and saves himself for race days.

Meanwhile, Neasham got the chance to watch new stable additions Laws Of Indices, a French group 1 winner, and Reve De Vol work together at Canterbury ahead of their first-up assault on the Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday week.

Impressive grey Top Rank, a winner of six from 12 races over the mile, also had a hit-out with a view to run in the Classique Legend Stakes next weekend or being saved for The Gong-Villiers Stakes double.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.