Jessicabeel Leads Kiwi Charge in Cup

With six of the 12 horse field in the Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup carrying the NZ suffix, Jessicabeel lead the NZ-breds home to fill the first four placings in the time-honoured event.

Stuck at the tail of the field after a tardy start, Jessicabeel (Zabeel x More Diamonds by Straight Stirke) was patiently ridden by Craig Newitt for Randwick trainer John O'Shea. Paddy Payne's Kiwi-stayer Capecover gave the imposing bay mare a drag into the race before her powerful sprint was unleashed, justifying punters sending her out favourite in the talent-packed field.

O'Shea, who seems to have caught onto a winning formula, combined earlier in the Carnival with owner Jason Abrahams and fellow NZB graduate and son of Zabeel, Zabrasive, to win the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas. �

Of the performance O'Shea commented after the race, "I was very confident coming here today, this is very gratifying. We went to New Zealand and bought stayers and now Zabrasive and this mare have both qualified for the Melbourne Cup."

Fellow Karaka sale ring graduate, Divine Rebel (Don Eduardo x It's My Sin by Success Express) was runner up for the second year in a row with last year's Melbourne Cup fifth place-getter, Harris Tweed (Montjeu x Sally by Prized) in third and Capecover (Cape Cross x Set Up by Zabeel) fourth.

Signalling her intentions a fortnight ago with victory in the Group 2 Chairman's Handicap (2600m) Jessicabeel now has five wins and two placings from 13 starts and total prizemoney of AU$438,500.

The four-year-old becomes just the fourth mare to win the race since 1960 with the outstanding Makybe Diva the last mare to beat the boys in the autumn after her first Melbourne Cup win.

O'Shea bid to $220,000 to secure her from Cambridge Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale while a year earlier in the same session, Divine Rebel was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock from Seaton Park for $80,000.

Jessicabeel is the 17th individual Group 1 winner this season for New Zealand Bloodstock who leads the charge with more Group 1 winners sold than any other Australasian Sales company this season.

Click here to view progeny of Zabeel entered in next week's National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.