Gilded Performance by Leebaz in Gold Cup

Exciting galloper Leebaz (NZ) (Zabeel) earned his first stakes victory with a well-deserved win in the Group 3 A$150,000 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

Leebaz (NZ) triumphant in the Group 3 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup.

The NZ$460,000 Karaka Premier Sale graduate was runner-up at his last start in the Listed Doncaster Prelude to Weary (Astronomer Royal), who has since been twice Group 1 placed. By rider James McDonald’s own omission, Leebaz was not given the best ride in the race when beaten.

Trainers Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes kept faith in McDonald, with the combination enjoying great success together in recent times including their win in the Golden Slipper with Mossfun (Mossman).

Starting a hot $1.50 race-favourite, Leebaz was positioned by McDonald near the pace on a Dead 4 track. The son of Zabeel (hence his name spelt backwards) was asked for an effort halfway down the straight, racing to the lead and holding off the late challenge from Wistful (Tiger Hill) to win by three-quarters of a length, with fellow kiwi-bred Keep Cool (NZ) (High Chaparral) finishing third.

“He is a really nice horse, he has just taken time,” stated John Hawkes. “We have been patient with him, left him alone and he is getting better as he is getting older. He was dear enough when we bought him so he had to be a nice horse.

“He is a middle distance horse, he isn’t a real staying horse. We haven’t decided what we will do with him yet, we will decide that this week.”

Saturday’s win was the sixth from only nine starts for Leebaz who has amassed A$264,200 in prizemoney for his owners Palmers Island No 1 Pty Ltd, Mr D V Russo, Mr P J Duggan, Brian Carroll Investments Pty Ltd & B & G Mcalister.

Bred by Windsor Park Stud Ltd, Leebaz is out of Listed winning mare Polish Princess (Polish Precedent), who was also Group 1 placed in her career. Leebaz is a half-brother to Group 2 Tulloch Stakes winner, a runner-up in the Group 1 Australian Derby also trained by Hawkes Racing.

Leebaz is the 149th stakes winner for his great sire Zabeel who was recently retired by Cambridge Stud’s Sir Patrick Hogan following an illustrious career.

Hawkes Racing purchased Leebaz for NZ$460,000 at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale from Windsor Park Stud.