Zabeel veterans combine for stakes double

Veteran stayers Precedence (Zabeel – Kowtow, by Shadeed) and Fiumicino (Zabeel – Latte, by Maroof) both showed they were capable of when they combined to give their marvellous stallion Zabeel (Sir Tristram – Lady Giselle, by Nureyev) a Saturday stakes double.

The nine-year-old Fiumicino posted the seventh win of career that has yielded two Group 1 successes when he won the Listed McKell Cup (2400m) at Randwick while the rising eight-year-old Precedence won his first race away from Moonee Valley for more than three years when he finished hard to claim the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben.

Fiumicino settled handy to the speed in his event, going around only one horse rounding the home turn, before drawing away to beat the promising import Motivado (Motivator – Tamise, by Time For A Change) comfortably.

Hawkes Racing partner Michael Hawkes said the stable intended to retire Fiumicino but may have to reconsider his short-term future after his McKell Cup win.

“He’s an old marvel that may have just bought himself more time,” he said. “His work on Tuesday was exceptional and he’s now won a race in his last two campaigns.”

“We’ll have to consider everything. The horse owes us nothing and has been up for a while now.”

The Bart Cummings-trained Precedence came from well back in the field to win the Premier’s Cup, beating the David Vandyke-trained Less Is More (Beat Hollow – Esprit Libre, by Daylami) and the New Zealand visitor Zennista (Zenno Rob Roy – Zarnitsa, by Maroof), booking a start in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m).

“He’s been a good horse for us for a long time,” Cummings’s stable foreman Reg Fleming said

“I thought today (with) 57.5kg, he’s been carrying 60, 60.5kg at home (Melbourne), 57.5kg is a pretty good weight for this horse racing in this class.”

Both Precedence and Fiumicino are graduates of New Zealand Premier Yearling Sales. Fiumicino was a $NZ425,000 purchase in 2005 while Precedence cost DGR Thoroughbreds $NZ180,000 two years later.

Zabeel trio shooting for Doomben Cup prize

Champion weight-for-age galloper Might And Power (Zabeel – Benediction, by Day Is Done) became the sole Doomben Cup winner sired by Zabeel (Sir Tristram – Lady Giselle, by Nureyev) in 1998 but the Cambridge Stud marvel has three representatives in the 2013 edition of the Group 1 feature.

Lights Of Heaven finished second to German-bred galloper Mawingo (Tertullian – Montfleur, by Sadler’s Wells) in last year’s Doomben Cup but did take out the normal lead-up to the $500,000 event when the Peter Moody-trained mare was successful in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 4.

The Hollindale Stakes has provided 15 of the last 23 Doomben Cup winners, including the last four – Scenic Shot (twice), Metal Bender, and Mawingo while nine won both events.

The 2012 Group 1 South Australian Derby winner Zabeelionaire (Zabeel – Kisumu, by Carnegie) and smart New Zealand mare Zurella (Zabeel – Doneze Girl, by Volksraad).

Below is the field for Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup.

No Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Sire
1 MANIGHAR (FR) Peter G Moody Brad Rawiller 9 59kg Linamix
2 DANLEIGH Chris Waller Michael Walker 6 59kg Mujahid
3 GINGA DUDE (NZ) Graeme Boyd Larry Cassidy 3 59kg Istidaad
4 FORETELLER (GB) Chris Waller Jim Cassidy 4 59kg Dansili
5 LAMASERY David Vandyke Glen Colless 14 59kg Commands
6 ZABEELIONAIRE (NZ) Leon Corstens Stephen Baster 7 59kg Zabeel
7 LIGHTINTHENITE John O’Shea Nicholas Hall 13 59kg Galileo
8 BEATEN UP (GB) Chris Waller Leith Innes 1 59kg Beat Hollow
9 LIGHTS OF HEAVEN (NZ) Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 5 57kg Zabeel
10 SECRET ADMIRER Grahame Begg Michael Rodd 12 57kg Dubawi
11 FIBRILLATION Tim Martin Michael Cahill (late alt) 8 57kg Diatribe
12 ZURELLA (NZ) Shaune Ritchie Jonathan Riddell 10 57kg Zabeel
13 PIMMS TIME (NZ) Guy Lowry Damian Browne 11 57kg Pins
14 HIPPOPUS (NZ) Gai Waterhouse Chris Munce 2 56.5kg High Chaparral

 

Zabeel’s girl Lights up Hollindale Stakes

Lights Of Heaven (Zabeel – I’m In Heaven, by Volksraad) was just touched off in a photo in last year’s running of the Group 2 Hollindale Cup but she arrived in time to claim the 2013 edition of the Gold Coast event.

Shez Sinsational (Ekraar – Original Sin, by Shinko King) beat Lights of Heaven narrowly in 2012 but nothing was going to stop the Peter Moody-trained mare atoning for that loss on Saturday.

The race panned out perfectly for Lights Of Heaven and her jockey Luke Nolen with a smart early speed spreading out the field, allowing the daughter of Zabeel (Sir Tristram – Lady Giselle, by Nureyev) to get in to a good trial, one off the fence, from her outside gate.

Lights Of Heaven took time to hit her top when pushed by Nolen at the 600 metres but knuckled down to her task from the 200 metres to overrun the game Transporter (Commands – Portrait Collector, by Sir Tristram) late. Foreteller (Dansili – Prophecy, by Warning) closed late to get within a long neck of Lights Of Heaven and denying Transporter second place.

“That makes up for her head defeat in this race last year and it might be a good sign going forward to the Doomben Cup,” Moody said. “She was second in that race as well last year so hopefully this is the turning point.

“She’s been a tremendous mare for us winning a Group 1 race as a three-year-old and going on to win multiple times at Group Two and Group 3 level.

“The good thing is we get to have a crack at putting another Group One on her CV in a couple of weeks’ time and the further she goes the better she’ll be.

“She was probably a bit dour today but she’s just looking for more ground and the step up to 2000 metres next time in the Doomben Cup and 2400 metres in the Brisbane Cup after that will be ideal for her.”

Lights Of Heaven’s Hollindale Stakes win was her sixth stakes win of a career that has also reaped victories in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks, Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup and the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic. The five-year-old became the third of Zabeel’s progeny to claim the Hollindale Stakes, following previous winners Coalesce (Zabeel – Essylt, by Artaius) and champion Might And Power (Zabeel – Benediction, by Day Is Done).

Lights Of Heaven is the best performed of five winners from as many foals to race out of I’m In Heaven (Volksraad – Cent From Heaven, by Centaine). The mare foaled a colt by Mastercraftsman (Danehill Dancer – Starlight Dreams, by Black Tie Affair) in 2011.

145 stakes winners for Cambridge marvel in Randwick City Stakes

Patinack Farm-owned four-year-old Tremec (Zabeel – Tipple, by Stravinsky) had to survive a protest before he became the 145th stakes winner for Cambridge Stud marvel Zabeel (Sir Tristram – Lady Giselle, by Nureyev) in the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2200m) at Warwick Farm.

Tremec progressed from a Benchmark 80 defeat over the same track and distance on March 9 to score a determined win in Listed company seven days later to give Patinack Farm after Maules Creek (Redoute’s Choice – Bramble Rose, by Shinko King) and Saint Encosta (Encosta De Lago – St Katherine, by Barathea) took out the two previous editions of the race.

Hugh Bowman, jockey of the runner-up Permit (Dansili – Cochin, by Swain), protested against the winner alleging interference rounding the home turn but stewards dismissed the objection to give Tremec his fifth win from 14 starts.

Patinack Farm paid $NZ400,000 for Tremec at the 2010 NZB Karaka Premier Sale. Tremec is a grand-son of the champion mare Horlicks (Three Legs – Malt, by Moss Trooper) and hails from the same family as Melbourne Cup winner Brew and Group 2 winner Bubble (both Sir Tristram – Horlicks, by Three Legs).

Patinack Farm is likely to test Tremec as a Sydney Cup contender in the coming weeks. Zabeel has sired two Sydney Cup winners with Gallic (Zabeel – Gesine, by Nassipour)  taking the 2007 edition of the race while Jessicabeel (Zabeel – More Diamonds, by Straight Strike) won the event in 2010.

Zabeel’s fighter breaks long drought in Underwood Cup

Zabeel’s (Sir Tristram – Lady Giselle, by Nureyev) nine-year-old son Fiumicino (Zabeel – Latte, by Maroof) broke a winning drought stretching back to 2009 with his determined win in the Listed Frank Underwood Cup (2200m) at Warwick Farm.

Fiumicino’s last win was in the Group BMW (2400m) at Rosehill 3-1/2 years ago but the gelding had been competitive in races such as the Caulfield Cup and Metropolitan Handicap before missing the entire 2010 and 2011 calendar years through injury.

The Hawkes Racing-trained gelding showed a glimpse form when third, although beaten a long way, behind the boom import Puissance De Lune in the Listed Bendigo Cup (2400m) on October 31.

The Hawkes Racing team sent Fiumicino back to Sydney for the Frank Underwood Cup, also booking top jockey Nash Rawiller to partner the veteran.

Rawiller rode Fiumicino positively, sending straight to the front to control the race before the dual Group 1 winner simply outfought his opposition, prevailing over King Utah (Bradbury’s Luck – Princess Cro, by Desert Prince) and the import Moriarty (Clodovil – Justice System, by Criminal Type).

The Underwood Stakes was the fourth stakes win for Fiumicino, which also won the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at  Rosehill in September 2008.

Commanding Jewel keeps 1000 Guineas in the family

Cambridge Stud legend Zabeel (Sir Tristram – Lady Giselle, by Nureyev) and his late daughter Regard (Zabeel – Nanshan, by Nashwan) dominated the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) for the second successive year at Caulfield.

The broodmare produced last year’s winner, the wonderful filly Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock – Regard, by Zabeel) before Commanding Jewel (Commands – Regard, by Zabeel) kept the Thousand Guineas crown in the family with her terrific success.

Commanding Jewel settled midfield before outsprinting the talented Sydney filly Dear Demi to score by 2-3/4 lengths. Dear Demi (Dehere – Shirley, by Zabeel) completed a quinella for Zabeel mares with her fighting performance.

Darley-owned filly Zydeco (Zabeel – All Time High, by Flying Spur) completed Zabeel’s dominance of the 2012 Thousand Guineas when she finished strongly from the back of the field to run third.

Leading Victorian syndicator Brad Spicer paid $205,000 for Commanding Jewel at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale, which now translates to an inspired piece of business. Vinery partner Greg Perry bred Commanding Jewel before taking a share in the terrific filly.

“We’ve been watching that horse run extraordinary sectionals at home and we’ve seen what she can do today (when) ridden quietly with a sit,” Spicer said.

“I think it’s just the tip of the iceberg because she will be a really nice filly next time around.”

“It’s a pity the mare (Regard) has died now to carry on the tradition.”

Commanding Jewel also provided her sire, the prolific Darley stallion Commands (Danehill – Cotehele House, by My Swanee) with his 50th individual stakes winner.

 

Melbourne Cup winner retired

Macedon Lodge owner Lloyd Williams has retired grand stayer Efficient (Zabeel – Refused The Dance, by Defensive Play) after the nine-year-old picked up another injury in trackwork on Thursday.

Efficient won the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in 2006 and the 2007 Melbourne Cup carrying Macedon Lodge’s navy blue and white silks before returning to win the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) in 2009.

“Efficient has been retired after suffering a leg injury this morning,” Macedon Lodge spokesman Nick Williams said.

“Efficient will be retired to a five-star paddock. He will have a very enjoyable retirement with his old mate Zipping.”

Efficient was voted the champion Australian stayer in 2007-08 for his performances.

His half-brother Guillotine (Montjeu – Refused The Dance, by Defensive Play) won the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) during his racing days.

Refused The Dance (Defensive Play – Forida Jig, by Jig Time) was stakes placed herself over 1200 metres in New Zealand.

Efficient won seven of 29 starts and more than $4.7 million in prizemoney.

13 acceptors for Lawrence Stakes

A field of 13 will assemble for the first Victorian Group 2 race of the 2012/13 season when the runners face the starter for Saturday’s P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

The race, formerly known as the J J Liston Stakes, has traditionally provided a starting point for many spring contenders but Sydeston (St Briavels – Convatrice, by Convamore) was the last horse to complete the Liston Stakes / Caulfield Cup double in 1990.

The Perth-trained gelding Luckygray (Bradbury’s Luck – Damah Lady, by Mukaddamah) is the opening favourite with all bookmakers trading on the $220,000 event.

Below is the full field for Saturday’s Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

RUNNER

JOCKEY

TRAINER

SIRE

Fiumicino

Michael Rodd

Hawkes Racing

Zabeel

Heart Of Dreams

Craig Newitt

Mick Price

Show A Heart

Luckygray

Shaun O’Donnell

Gino Poletti

Bradbury’s Luck

Rekindled Interest

Steven Arnold

Jim Conland

Redoute’s Choice

Seville (Ger)

Nicholas Hall

Robert Hickmott

Galileo

Ready To Rip

Luke Nolen

Peter Moody

More Than Ready

Mr Chard

Dean Holland

Dean Lawson

Al Samer

Second Effort

Chris Symons

Clinton McDonald

Mossman

Prince Obama

Glen Boss

Jason Clifford

Clangalang

Guns At Five

Vlad Duric

Peter Moody

Duelled

Zamorar

Damien Oliver

David Bourne

Scandal Keeper

Mister Milton

Steven King

Norman Waymouth

Snippetson

Bare Knuckle

Darren Gauci

Adam Logan

Clangalang

 

Zabeel mare bolts in with Brisbane Cup

Zabeel’s impressive daughter Lights Of Heaven (Zabeel – I’m In Heaven, by Volksraad) completed a profitable Brisbane trip with a win in Saturday’s Group II Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm.

Lights Of Heaven won the Group II Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) seven days earlier but showed no ill-effects from the run on heavy ground to post a decisive victory.

The Peter Moody-trained mare overcame a wide gate to race just off the pace for most of the race before showing terrific acceleration to inflict a three-length defeat on her opposition. The win was Lights Of Heaven’s sixth from 14 starts and fourth at Stakes level.

“It was a wonderful, positive ride by Luke (Nolen),” Moody said. “He wanted to take the race by the scruff of the neck, he wanted to put her into the race and I wasn’t going to doubt him.”

Lights Of Heaven won the Group 1 Australasian Oaks as a three-year-old but struggled last spring when one of the major Caulfield and Melbourne Cup fancies.

Retained to race by her breeder, Lights Of Heaven is a daughter of the Brisbane city winner I’m In Heaven (Volksraad – Cent From Heaven, by Centaine), who is a sister to the New Zealand Group 3 winner Eloa (Volksraad – Cent From Heaven, by Centaine).

The amazing Zabeel will stand for $NZ100,000 (plus GST) as part of Cambridge Stud’s line-up for the 2012 breeding season.

 

Australian connection to outstanding French filly

Outstanding Deep Impact (Sunday Silence – Wind In Her Hair, by Alzao) filly Beauty Parlour remained undefeated with her comfortable win in the Group 1 Poule D’Essai Des Pouliches (1m) at Longchamp in France.

Sent out as an odds-on favourite Beauty Parlour settled midfield before unwinding a strong finishing burst to post her fourth victory from as many starts.

Beauty Parlour is the result of an inspired decision by her late breeder Alec Wildenstein to send the filly’s dam Bastet (Giant’s Causeway – Benediction, by Day Is Done) to Japan to be served by Deep Impact.

“Apparently one of the last things that Alec Wildenstein did, God bless him, was to send that mare all the way to Japan. It’s a pity he wasn’t here to see it.””Apparently one of the last things that Alec Wildenstein did, God bless him, was to send that mare all the way to Japan,” a gracious John Magnier, part-owner of the second placegetter Up, said. “It’s a pity he wasn’t here to see it.”

Bastet is a half-sister to the Australian champion stayer Might And Power (Zabeel – Benediction, by Day Is Done) as well as Miss Priority (Kaapstad – Benediction, by Day Is Done), who is the dam of top Hong Kong galloper Lucky Owners (Danehill – Miss Priority, by Kaapstad).

Miss Priority is also the grand-dam of one of this season’s outstanding three-year-old fillies, Mosheen (Fastnet Rock – Sumehra, by Stravinsky).