Preferment (NZ) Scores Second G1 in Turnbull

Esteemed Karaka graduate Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel) notched up his second victory at the highest level  with a compelling victory in the A$500,000 Group 1 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington yesterday.

Preferment (NZ) victorious in the Group 1 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes.

Carrying the legacy of the late Champion sire Zabeel, Preferment first basked in Group 1 glory last spring winning the Group 1 Victoria Derby. The Chris Waller trained entire then went on to be runner-up in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas this autumn, narrowly beaten by fellow kiwi Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ) (Tavistock).

Preferment is the second Karaka graduate to have success in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, after Lucia Valentina’s (NZ) (Savabeel) triumph in last year's edition.

Guy Mulcaster purchased Preferment on behalf of Chris Waller Racing for NZ$190,000 at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale from Cambridge Stud.

“He has really developed into an outstanding prospect,” commented Mulcaster. “He won over 2500m and has strengthened enough now to race against the best in the world.

“He is a colt and will be going to stud – I can’t recommend a better horse to stand in New Zealand.”

Starting from barrier 9 in the 15-horse field for rider Hugh Bowman, Preferment settled back in behind midfield, racing one off the fence. Caught at the back of the field as they came off the turn for home, he squeezed through to take the outside path and stormed down to catch the leaders inside 100m.

It was a two-horse battle in the final moments as Preferment burst to the front in company with Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice), but it was the son of Zabeel who narrowly nudged his way to victory by a nose over Royal Descent and Set Square (Reset) who finished in third place.

The four-year-old entire has had three wins in his 14-start career, earning over A$1.5 million in prizemoney for his owners Mrs L F Huddy, Woppitt Bloodstock, Mr I Bruce, Mr G L Huddy, Magic Bloodstock Racing, Mr R Smith, Mr B L Mathieson, Mr K H Warriner, Mr J T C Lake, Mr F W Cook, Mrs C M Cook and GG Ltd.

Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan of Cambridge Stud bred the son of the great Zabeel with Mrs B M & L J Anselmi and Mrs H M & M J Moran. He is out of winning mare Better Alternative (Flying Spur), who is also the dam of Group 3 winner Rezoned (Zabeel), the full-sister to Preferment, and is from the family of Group 1 winner Ancient Song (Canny Lad).\

Preferment is the second son of Zabeel to win the Group 1 double following Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel) who won the Group 1 Victoria Derby in 2006 and the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes in 2009.

Along with Preferment’s success this weekend in Australia, Karaka graduate Ecuador (NZ) (High Chaparral), trained by Gai Waterhouse, was runner-up on Saturday at Randwick in the Group 1 The Star 150^th Epsom Handicap.