Australian Stakes Double for Zabeel

Australian Stakes Double for Zabeel

It seems not even age can slow the champion sire Zabeel with his sons Fiumicino (NZ) and Precedence (NZ) both successful in stakes races in Australia on Saturday.

Saturday’s A$125,000 Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben saw the Bart Cummings trained Precedence (Zabeel x Kowtow) make a return to winning form with his last victory coming in September last year at Moonee Valley.

In a tough display in Saturday’s Group 3, Precedence was forced to go to the extreme outside on the turn in order to find racing room and in the straight he came with a late finish to win by a length. He is now heading to the Group 2 Brisbane Cup in a fortnight.

Bred: Bloomsbury Stud and Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan. Offered: Cambridge Stud. Purchased: DGR Thoroughbred Services - NZB’s 2007 Karaka Premier Sale - $180,000.
Fiumicino (NZ) Fighting to the End

It was announced by the Hawkes stable last week that Saturday’s A$100,000 Listed McKell Cup (2400m) at Randwick would be the last race for the evergreen galloper Fiumicino (NZ) but a resounding win may have briefly extended his time in training.
Fiumicino Randwick Cup

The winner of the Group 1 Australian Derby and Group 1 BMW Stakes at five, Fiumicino (Zabeel x Latte) is now nine-years-old and has defied his age this season with a burst back into Australia’s stakes ranks, winning the Listed Underwood Cup in December before Saturday’s Listed McKell Cup.

Saturday’s race saw Fiumicino dominate his rivals, putting the field under pressure when taking the lead 600 metres from home and racing away to a comfortable three length win.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes commented that Fiumicino still showed that spark and love for racing and given Saturday’s result, a crack at the Group 2 Brisbane Cup is now on the cards.

Bred: Graham de Gruchy and Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan. Offered: Cambridge Stud. Purchased: Nick Moraitis – NZB’s 2005 Karaka Premier Sale - $425,000.
Tweets of the Week

@Aidan Rodley Proud day for all of racing yesterday with
Hall of Fame trainer John Wheeler made a
member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in Wellington.

@KarakaChat The team at NZB were saddened to hear RANGIRANGDOO
was put down yesterday. Thoughts go out to @cwallerracing
@HaylieMartin & crew #Champ
Australia Next for Listed Winner?

Another weekend, another black-type winner for O’Reilly who celebrated his 15th stakes winner of the season on Saturday with Hera (NZ) (ex Corsica, by Centaine) taking the $50,000 Listed Graeme Thomson Jewellers Great Northern Foal Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.

“It was a very professional effort,” commented Roger James. “To hold off the field down the length of the Ellerslie straight is not easy but she kept her line the whole way and Matt Cameron who rode her said she had a bit in hand at the finish. We may now look to take her to Australia.”Hera was impressive in her stakes debut, hitting the lead at the top of the straight and maintaining a strong gallop in the heavy conditions to win by 1.3 lengths.

ends

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