Kiwis Swamp Stayers Features at Doomben

New Zealand dominated the staying ranks at Domben on Saturday, winning both Group 3 staying features with Zephyron (NZ) & Vilanova (NZ).

Zephyron (NZ) triumphant in the Group 3 Channel Seven Premier’s Cup.

Karaka’s sale-topping graduate Zephyron (NZ) is slowly proving his staying prowess as he led a string of seven kiwis across the line in the Group 3 A$126,100 Channel Seven Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben.

NZ$2 million 2010 Karaka Premier yearling graduate claimed his second consecutive stakes victory in defeating Precedence (NZ) on Saturday, handing Cambridge Stud’s recently retired sire Zabeel the quinella.

The victory followed a Listed win in Sydney two weeks earlier for trainers Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes, with their lightly raced five-year-old remaining on track for the Brisbane Cup.

“We were confident going into the race,” commented co-trainer Michael Hawkes. “It was just a matter of him relaxing and shutting down during the run and he did that so the rest is history.

“It is only the second preparation that we have had him but he is working more like a stayer now. When we first had the horse he would get keen and was more like a sprinter-miler but with a bit of patience he has turned into a staying Zabeel.”

Leading jockey Glen Boss settled Zephyron in sixth position on the rails and his mount was full of running entering the straight. The gelding dashed to the lead earlier than Boss had wanted but he was strong at the end of the 2200m staying trip, holding Precedence at bay by three-quarters of a length.

In a remarkable achievement, NZ horses were the first seven past the post in the 14-horse field, with Pretty Pins (NZ) (Pins) finishing third and Zennista (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy) claiming fourth spot to give Karaka alumni the first four spots.

The Premier’s Cup is a traditional lead-in race to the Group 2 Brisbane Cup and that is the next target for Zephyron.

“At this stage he will go to the Brisbane Cup, but it depends on the weather,” Hawkes said. “He doesn’t really like wet tracks. But he is back in Sydney now and all going well that is where he is heading.”

Saturday’s win was Zephyron’s the fifth from just fifteen starts, earning A$264,130 in his career to date for owners Kia-Ora Stud, W S & Mr L M Macri & Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan.

Zephyron is out of Listed winner and Group 1 runner-up Diamond Like (Danehill), the dam of last year’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks runner-up Miss Zenella (Zabeel), Group 1 placegetter Forever Loved (High Chaparral) and Listed performer Ardeche (Dehere).

His second dam is the dual Group 1 winner Tristalove (Sir Tristram), the dam of Group 1 winner Viking Ruler (Danehill), and his third dam is prolific producer Diamond Lover (Sticks and Stones).

James Bester Bloodstock purchased Zephyron at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale from Cambridge Stud for $2,000,000.

Earlier on the card at Doomben, kiwi three-year-old Vilanova (NZ) (Commands) impressively won the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes ahead of fellow Karaka graduate Pinstripe Lane (NZ) (Pins). View the full article here.