First Group 1 for Don Eduardo

Booming will attempt to go one better for trainer Jeff Lynds in the G1 Auckland Cup in March.  The Don Eduardo gelding was runner-up to Zavite in this year’s edition of the Cup.

Booming (6g Don Eduardo – Beautiful Sea by Grosvenor) staked his claim for a Group 1 double at Ellerslie with a fast-finishing victory in the G1 Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day.  He defeated trans-Tasman stakes winners Red Ruler (Viking Ruler) and Ginga Dude (Istidaad).

The Zabeel Classic continued his stellar season being enjoyed by Lynds after stablemate Wall Street completed G1 hat-trick in the Windsor Park Stakes and Spring Classic at Hastings and the Emirates Stakes at Flemington.  Lynds also won last year’s G1 Kelt Capital and Zabeel Classic with Vosne Romanee.

“We wanted to take Booming to Melbourne for the spring but he was weighted out of it,” Lynds said.  “That’s turned out to be a blessing and we will head to the Auckland Cup now, and who knows, maybe even keep an eye out for the 2011 Melbourne Cup.”

Booming was bred by Fayette Park Stud and was bought by Don Frampton for $50,000 from Seaton Park at the 2006 Karaka Select Sale.   

His sire Don Eduardo stands at Haunui Farm and the Zabeel Classic was his first at the elite level.  “It has been a long time coming,” Haunui studmaster Mark Chitty said.  “He has a lot of promising young horses coming through the ranks and it’s great to see a son of Zabeel sire the winner of the Zabeel Classic.”

Don Eduardo has a draft of 13 yearlings in the 2011 NZB Karaka Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.  A half-sister to Booming by Postponed is catalogued for the 2011 Karaka Select Sale as Lot 710.

Dashing Donna completed a winning double for by Don Eduardo on Boxing Day.  The mare was a Listed winner of the Newmarket Handicap earlier in the day.

Dashing Donna (6m Don Eduardo – Epic Pulse by Epidaurus) was covered by Mastercraftsman (Danehill Dancer) who replaced High Chaparral at Windsor Park this year.  She has tested positive which will curtail her racing career shortly.

Curraghmore Stud will offer Dashing Donna’s yearling half-brother by Perfectly Ready as Lot 828 at the 2011 NZB Select yearling sale.