Cambridge Stud champion Zabeel notched his 148th stakes winner when Zonza (NZ) scored an on-pace victory in the G3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on Wednesday.

Zonza (5m Zabeel – Sonet by Gold Brose) duelled with front-runner Two Sugars (Dash For Cash) before breaking clear to land her first black-type success.  The Roger James trained mare had earned a trip across the Tasman after winning at Te Rapa on October 4.

“I thought she’d be competitive in a race like this,” said James.  “She’s been first or second in 10 of her last 12 starts.”

James said Zonza will now head for the G2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9.  “You can’t underestimate how valuable these Australian black type events are for a potential broodmare.”

The Kiwi trainer will saddle up O’Reilly mare Silent Achiever (NZ) in the G1 Caulfield Cup this Saturday.

Zonza is a homebred for Brendan and Jo Lindsay and they have since bred a Starcraft filly and colt from their mare Sonet.  The Lindsays raced Sonet with trainer Ray Johnson and she earned black-type on debut when runner-up in the 2000 Counties Challenge Stakes.

ZABEEL
Champion sire pictured with Miss World NZ Ella Langsford