Six O'Clock News Back in Headlines

Tough Zabeel seven-year-old Six O'Clock News (NZ) has rewarded his connections' faith as he returned to winning form yesterday with a tough performance in the $70,000 Group 3 Mills Reef Winery Trentham Stakes (2100m) on Saturday.

Not seen in the winners' circle since taking the St Leger Trial in February 2009, Six O'Clock News (Zabeel x Maurine) fought bravely in the final stages of the race with Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller aboard, holding off the fast-finishing Roi d'Jeu (Montjeu) to win by a short head.

The win has seen the seven-year-old strike form at a good time as he is set to contest the Group 2 Wellington Cup (2400m) next Saturday at the same course. Rawiller rode Six O'Clock News in last year's Trentham Stakes where he ran fourth and commented that the horse is in solid form this year for the Group 2.

Zabeel had a top weekend as he was also the broodmare sire of Group 3 winner Ocean Park. The champion sire has 32 entries in the Premier Sale including:

• Lot 147, a very close relation to Group 1 winners Dizelle (Zabeel) and Vengeance of Rain (Zabeel) from the Danehill mare Danelish.
• Lot 237, the filly from the Group 1 Sydney Cup winning mare Honor Babe (Honor Grades).

Bred by the Bax family and Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan, Six O'Clock News was purchased by Stuart Hale from Blandford Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale for $110,000. The seven-year-old has won seven of his 49 starts for over $400,000 in stakes.

Running third in the race was another Ready to Run graduate, the honest performer Hold it Harvey (King Cugat x Daly Charm). A winner of 14 of his 60 starts, the seven-year-old continues to show his class in black-type races and his performance indicates that he will be a force to reckon with next week as he holds a nomination for the Group 1 Thorndon Mile.

Westbury Stud will be offering a half-brother to Hold it Harvey by Flying Spur at Lot 138 of the Karaka Premier Sale.

Capping off a good weekend for the Ready to Run Sale, racing in Dubai saw Ip Man (Mr. Nancho x Crownie) notch up career win number three from five starts when winning the Meydan Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group Handicap (1400m).

Trained by Singapore trainer Steven Burridge, Ip Man broke the 1400 metre track record and could now be a starter in the UAE 2000 Guineas.