Zabeel’s Final Act at Karaka 2014

New Zealand Bloodstock’s upcoming National Yearling Sale Series will be the last chance to tap into one of the greatest, if not the greatest, stallions ever produced in New Zealand, with the recent retirement of super-sire Zabeel.

Cambridge Stud's Champion Sire Zabeel.

Cambridge Stud’s breed-shaping sire will offer his final significant crop at Karaka 2014.The 27-year-old sire has only five foals on the ground from the 2013 breeding season, with only one of those horses likely to be seen at auction in the future.

In December Sir Patrick Hogan gave an emotional public goodbye for a horse that had given Cambridge Stud, and the New Zealand breeding industry, so much and will continue to do so through a dynasty of broodmares he has become famous for in recent times.

The achievements speak for themselves: 15 Dewer Stallion Awards (prizemoney in Australia & NZ combined), four times Champion New Zealand Sire, twice Champion Australian Sire, twice Champion New Zealand Broodmare Sire, and twice Champion Australian Broodmare Sire.

He has produced 148 individual stakes winners, including 43 Group 1 winners. In 2013 he sired winner number 1000, a feat only accomplished by one other sire in history, northern hemisphere’s sire sensation Sadler’s Wells.

In recent times it has been Zabeel’s deeds as a broodmare sire that has brought him fame and will ensure his legacy lives on for years to come. He is the damsire of 22 Group 1 winners, including a remarkable Group 1 trifecta in the 2013 Underwood Stakes that was won by kiwi superstar (It’s a) Dundeel beating champion mare Atlantic Jewel with Dear Demi rounding out the trifecta for Zabeel mares.

For the past 20 years Zabeel’s progeny have lit up the Karaka Sales Complex. Zabeel is responsible for 10 of the 24 $1 million plus yearlings that have been through the auditorium at Karaka, including New Zealand’s highest-ever priced yearling purchased for $3.6 million, a record that stood in Australasia for 13 years.

Karaka 2014 will see 32 yearlings set to create interest as they go under the hammer as Zabeel’s final significant crop, including 13 fillies. As has become accustomed at Karaka for the past two decades, many of Zabeel’s progeny will feature among the highlights of the Sale.

Zabeel’s colts include:

• Lot 137 – a half-brother to six-time Group 1 Sir Slick and recent Group 2 winner Puccini.
• Lot 174 – a half-brother to Singapore Horse of the Year Super Easy.
• Lot 197 – out of a stakes winning two- and three-year-old filly Pulcinella.
• Lot 458 – second foal of the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes winner Ekstreme.
• Lot 460 – out of dual stakes winning mare Eloa who has three foals to race that have all won.

Zabeel’s deeds as a broodmare sire means his fillies are widely sought after and he has a strong line-up at Karaka 2014 including:

• Lot 66 – the first foal out of Group 1 New Zealand Oaks winner Jungle Pocket.
• Lot 329 – the second foal out of Group 1 Waikato International Stakes winner Veloce Bella.
• Lot 333 – a daughter of Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Vitesse Dane.
• Lot 240 – a half-sister to brilliant Group 2 winning two-year-old Amelia’s Dream.
• Lot 276 – a three-quarter sister to dual Group 2 winner Lafleur.
• Lot 443 – a half-sister to Group 2 winner Blackie.

Zabeel is the broodmare sire of 37 yearlings in the Premier Sale including:

• Lot 35 – a colt by O’Reilly out of Group 1 winner Grand Echezeaux making him a half-brother to five-time Group 1 winner Darci Brahma.
• Lot 275 – a three-quarter sister to current star racehorse (It’s a) Dundeel by Derby winning sire Nom du Jeu
• Lot 90 – a colt by O’Reilly out of dual Group 2 winning mare Lafleur.
• Lot 265 – a filly by Pins out of Special Diamond, a daughter of the great Diamond Lover.
• Lot 428 – a filly by Stravinsky out of Group 2 winner Crimson, the dam of stakes winners Abidewithme and Miss Scarlatti.

Zabeel’s sire Sir Tristram was the foundation sire for Cambridge Stud and was an enormous influence on creating the empire that is now Cambridge Stud. Most people, including Sir Patrick, did not expect another sire to match the feats of Sir Tristram – Zabeel has proved he deserves the legendary status alongside his father.

The curtain is nearly drawn on Zabeel’s breeding career but buyers have a final unique opportunity to secure part of the legacy at the 2014 National Yearling Sales Series.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka will be held from Monday 27 January to Sunday 2 February. To view the catalogues online visit www.nzb.co.nz.