The G1 Queensland Oaks was a triumph for West Australian breeder Trevor Delroy and Cambridge Stud legend Zabeel.

Gondokoro (3f Zabeel – Kisumu by Carnegie) gave notice Saturday’s Queensland Oaks won’t be her last at the elite level.  Making the most of all the favours in transit, she stayed on strongly to defeat Sir Patrick’s Hogan’s Zabeel filly Miss Zenella by almost three lengths.

The last furlong was the best part of the 2400 metre victory.  Delroy’s homebred filly lengthened like a genuine stayer and connections must be looking to future with a fair deal of confidence.

Trainer Pat Carey wasn’t making any snap decisions about a follow-up start in the G1 Queensland Derby next Saturday and he wouldn’t even commit to a spring campaign until talking further with Delroy.

“She’s got the constitution to be a good stayer but let’s not lose sight of what it takes to win a Caulfield or a Melbourne Cup,” Carey said.  “All the imported horses have to be factored in thesedays – we might wait and set her for the BMW at the next autumn carnival.”

Zabeel is rising 27 and has been represented by 146 stakes winners of 350 stakes races.  He also sired Gondokoro’s older brother Zabeelionaire to a G1 victory in the 2012 South Australian Derby.

Delroy purchased their dam Kisumu as a yearling with the specific intention of eventually mating her with Zabeel.  She cost $67,500 at the 2005 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale and began her career in Perth before returning east where she won at Sale and was placed behind Miss Finland in the G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield.

Kisumu has been covered by Zabeel every year since retiring to stud.  She has an unnamed 2yo filly, a yearling colt and a filly foal by the Cambridge Stud champion and she was bred back to him again last year.

The colt was sold for $420,000 to Jadeskye Racing at the 2013 Inglis Easter yearling sale.

– Karl Patterson