Written by Jesse Dart
Cover image courtesy of Cambridge Stud
Thursday announced the arrival of a serious contender for the Group 1 3-year-old races later in the season, off the back of a dominant victory by Zabmanzor (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in the G3 Wellington S. at Otaki.
Saddled up by renowned training duo Roger James and Robert Wellwood, who also have top-quality mare Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) in their care, the colt settled towards the rear of the field, striding up before the corner and letting down with a powerful turn of acceleration to make the race a battle for the minor placings by the 200-metre pole.
The win only enhances the reputation of stallion Almanzor (Fr) as a capable producer of 3-year-olds, his sole Group 1 winner to date being G1 Victoria Derby winner Manzoice in 2022, who emerged from his first crop. Zabmanzor is out of his second crop, and is relatively inexperienced, a characteristic that was on full display with some wayward running in the home straight.
It mattered very little how straight or wayward he ran, with a chasing pack unable to recover the margin stolen by jockey Masa Hashizume from the final turn to the 200-metre mark. The official winning margin of 4l has set the bar high for potential next assignments, the G1 Levin Classic in January 2024, as well as the G1 New Zealand Derby, held in March at Te Rapa Racecourse are both options.
Speaking after the race to loveracing.co.nz, co-trainer Robert Wellwood said of his promising colt, “He’s a very, very good horse and we’ve really liked him from day one.”
“He first went to the races having only had one trial, so he’s learned as he’s gone along.
Robert Wellwood and Roger James | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“He’s still got to learn to get into a rhythm, but once he got going today he put them away pretty quickly.
“There are a lot of options ahead, but we will get him home and see how he does before we make a plan.”
Out of unraced Savabeel mare Zaborei (NZ), Zabmanzor’s page is incredibly deep, boasting numerous top-class relations. His grandam, Corsicana (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) is a full sister to G2 Eight Carat Classic and G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic winner Hera (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), herself a producer of two winners, including Stellar Olympus - Stellar Swift (Starspangledbanner), who was a winner as a 2-year-old.
Zabmanzor (NZ) won the G3 Wellington S. by 4l at Otaki on Thursday | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery, Race Images Palmerston North
His fourth dam, Crash Course (NZ) (Voyager), is a half-sister to Reeanna (NZ) (Laser Light {GB}), who produced G1 Australian Cup and G1 Doomben Cup winner Dandy Andy (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}), infamous for his shock victory over Bonecrusher (NZ) (Pag Asa) in the 1987 edition of the Australian Cup.
Zabmanzor also boasts relations to reliable Western Australian stallion Maschino, as well as electric sprinter Buenos Noches (Supido) and Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Ballroom Babe (NZ) (Citidancer {Ire}), who won three Group 1 races.
The result is a fantastic accomplishment for breeders John and Di Suthers, who kept Zabmanzor to race, having purchased Zaborei for NZ$460,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2016.
