Top Win by $2m NZB Sale Topper

The NZ$2,000,000 2010 Karaka Premier Sale-topper Zephyron (NZ) (Zabeel) outstayed his rivals to secure his first stakes victory in the Listed A$100,800 Fujitsu Air Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Zephyron (NZ) as a yearling at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale.

Zephyron hails from the great Eight Carat family that has produced Group 1 winners Octagonal (Zabeel), Tristalove (Sir Tristram), Viking Ruler (Danehill), De Beers (Quest for Fame), Diamond Lover (Sticks and Stones) and Don Eduardo (Zabeel), all close relatives to Zephyron.

The victory was the fourth win from only 14 starts for the five-year-old son of Zabeel and carried on the good form trainers Team Hawkes has enjoyed with Karaka graduates recently, preparing last weekend’s Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Leebaz (NZ), also by Zabeel.

 “It was a very pleasing win,” commented Michael Hawkes. “To do what he did yesterday was very good, he had to sustain a long run from probably half a mile from home and he has got the will to do.”

Apprentice rider Taylor Marshall positioned Zephyron in third position behind tearaway leader Madam Nash (Flying Spur), with the race run at a good tempo. At the 200m Zephyron went by Madam Nash and hit the front with race-favourite I’m Imposing (Danehill Dancer) surging with him. It looked as though I’m Imposing may have had the better of Zephyron but the well-bred gelding fought back to regain the lead and win by a neck.

 “This preparation he is a lot more relaxed and proved that yesterday winning the way he did,” said Hawkes. “He had a few K’s on him when we got him and all he wanted to do was reef and tear, probably more like a sprinter-miler. With a bit of time and patience and a bit of TLC he is more like a staying type now.

“He is probably going to head towards the Brisbane Cup. He pulled up good today and we will see how he is the next few days. There are a couple of options there, his next start might be over 2200m.

“His goal this time around was going to be the Brisbane Cup on 7 June but the thing with him is he doesn’t really like wet tracks which is another consideration depending on how wet Brisbane might be - if it is wet he won’t run. We will decide in the next few days what we do with but that has been his plan this whole prep.”

James Bester Bloodstock purchased Zephyron at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale from Cambridge Stud.

Bred by Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan, Zephyron is out of Listed winner Diamond Like (Danehill), a Group 1 placegetter. Diamond Like has had four foals to race, all have been winners and stakes performed including Forever Loved (High Chaparral), twice Group 1 placed during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Zephyron was the 151st stakes winner for Zabeel who had earlier earned stakes winner number 150 with Rezoned’s Group 3 win in South Australia.

Earlier on the card at Rosehill, fellow Karaka graduate Pinstripe Lane (NZ) (Pins) was a winner for trainer Troy Corestens, who indicate Group 1 Queenland Derby aspirations for the colt. A half-brother by O’Reilly to the colt is catalogued in NZB’s National Weanling Sale tomorrow (12 May) at Lot 162.