Kiwi Quinella in G2 Chairman’s Quality

It was a kiwi bred quinella in Saturday’s A$175,000 Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick with Zabeel four-year-old Tremec and Blood Brotha putting in good performances in the lead up to the Group 1 Sydney Cup.

A four-year-old son of Zabeel, Tremec (ex Tipple) came out on top in the Group 2 by a long neck in a tough staying performance under jockey Craig Newitt, racing just off the pace set by race favourite Julienas, before taking the lead 200 metres out and holding Blood Brotha to the line.

The win was Tremec’s second win at stakes level having won the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2200m) at his last start, beating Permit who won the Chairman’s Quality last year, and brings him right into calculations for the Group 1 Sydney Cup on 27 April for his trainer John Thompson.

Fellow Karaka graduate Blood Brotha (Danzighill) won the Group 2 Wellington Cup (2400m) in January this year and produced a game performance to take second place in Saturday’s race, coming from the back of the field and being widest on the turn. The seven-year-old has won twice over 3200 metres and is another that has strong claims in the Cup in two weeks.

Tremec was bred by Hawke’s Bay breeder Graham De Gruchy, is raced by Patinack Farm Racing and has now won six of his 15 starts for almost A$260,000 in stakes.

The son of Zabeel was offered by Wentwood Grange at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2010 Karaka Premier Sale and was purchased by Patinack Farm for $400,000.

Tremec has continued Zabeel and his sire Sir Tristram’s outstanding affiliation with the six time Group 1 winning mare Horlicks who was owned by Graham De Gruchy. Zabeel and Sir Tristram, in combination with the Horlicks family, have produced the likes of Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Brew, Australian Derby winner Fiumicino, Group 2 winner Bubble and now Tremec.