Ever Loyal Shines in Zacinto Stakes

Sebring gelding Ever Loyal, bought for $240,000 at the 2016 Premier Sale, stepped up to stakes level for the first time in Saturday’s $70,000 Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton and made an immediate black-type impact.

An easy maiden winner at Te Aroha 10 days earlier, the Tony Pike-trained gelding was unfazed by classier opposition on Saturday. Ridden by Jason Waddell, he burst through the inside to take the lead at the top of the straight and held on strongly to win by a length and a quarter.

Ever Loyal has now had four starts for two wins, a second and a fourth, earning $49,350 in prize-money for owner C M Wong.

From the family of Group 1 winners Special (Habituate) and Bomber Bill (Air de France), he was bred by SF Bloodstock LLC and was offered by Lyndhurst Farm at the Premier Sale.