Zabeel: The King of Karaka

Octagonal, Might and Power, Sky Heights, Vengeance of Rain, Efficient and Champagne, just some of the formidable line-up of Group 1 winners claimed by New Zealand's own super-sire, Zabeel.

Zabeel (Sir Tristram x Lady Giselle, by Nureyev) has had a notable presence at the Karaka Sales for over a decade. Since his first season at Cambridge Stud his profile has grown to somewhat of a legendary status, siring 40 individual Group 1 winners, 132 individual stakes winners, being the damsire of over 700 individual winners (65 at black type level), and having progeny earnings of over NZ$155 million worldwide.

Through the deeds of his outstanding progeny, Zabeel has won New Zealand's Dewar Award (for combined NZ and Australia progeny earnings) 14 times, been New Zealand's Champion Sire on four occasions, and Australia's Champion Sire twice.

In the sale ring Zabeel still holds the record for the highest priced yearling ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere, the $3.6 million dollar colt (now sire, Don Eduardo) from Diamond Lover in 2000.

And on the Australian racetracks, Zabeel is the most successful Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate sire in history. In May of this year, he was awarded the Kingston Town Greatness Award as the greatest sire ever in the Cox Plate's rich 88 year history with four winners Octagonal (NZ) (1995), Might and Power (NZ) (1998), Savabeel (2004) and Maldivian (NZ) (2008).

The 2009/2010 season was another stellar season for Zabeel. In the Karaka sale ring, his colt from Diamond Like was the highest priced yearling sold in Australasia in 2010 at $2 million, and his filly from Gin Player was the top priced yearling filly sold in Australasia in 2010 at A$1.3 million.

Respected Sydney bloodstock agent James Bester was full of praise for the Karaka sale-topper: "I loved this colt, he just knocked me over when I first saw him. When I saw him the second time I decided that he would have to rate as the highest of all the yearlings I had ever seen in the world."

On the track he was the sire of four individual Group 1 winners: Zabrasive (Group 1 Rosehill Guineas), Zavite (Group 1 Auckland Cup), Efficient (Group 1 Turnbull Stakes) and Jessicabeel (Group 1 Sydney Cup).

The start of the 2010/2011 season saw Zabeel continue in fine fashion with spring racing showcasing his highly talented son Maluckyday, who looks to be a star of the future.

From only nine starts, Maluckyday has notched up five wins and four placings, earning over A$1.1 million on the track. His win in the Listed City Tattersall's Cup was effortless and he showed that was no fluke, coming from the back of the field to win the Group 3 Lexus Stakes and secure a Melbourne Cup start.

His second in the Melbourne Cup was a remarkable achievement from only his ninth start and it showed just how much this son of Zabeel has to offer on the track.

Next year's 2011 Karaka Premier Sale will see another promising crop by the Kiwi champion, with 31 yearlings entered for sale.

Zabeel's 2011 Karaka draft consists of 17 colts and 14 fillies. Amongst the highlights are:

One of the anticipated lots of the sale, the colt from the seven-time Group 1 winner and twice New Zealand Horse of the Year Seachange (Cape Cross), at Lot 37. The colt is the first of Seachange's progeny to go through the ring.

The filly at Lot 258 from the Danehill mare, Dane Dancer is bred on the highly successful Zabeel / Danehill cross which has seen Group 1 winners Vengeance of Rain, Zabrasive and Dizelle emerge. Dane Dancer is from one of the leading families in the studbook being a three-quarter sister to champion sire Redoute's Choice as well as sires Al Maher and Manhattan Rain.

The filly at Lot 372 from Jesmonds Gift (Magic of Sydney) is a half-sister to the Golden Slipper winning sire Canny Lad and triple Group 1 winner Canny Lass.

Lot 178, from the Stravinsky mare Ballet Danseuse, is a three-quarter-sister to the Melbourne Cup and VRC Derby winner Efficient; and Lot 225 is a half-sister to SAJC Goodwood H. winner Velocitea (Volksraad).

Among his strong draft of colts are Lot 152 from Affirmed Lane, the dam of the Group 1 placed J'Adane; Lot 172, the colt from the Sadler's Wells mare Asterie, a sister to the stakes winner Sensible and a half-sister to the stakes placed Ciel Rouge; and Lot 491, the second foal of the stakeswinning Polish Princess (Polish Precedent).

Zabeel's appeal is not limited to his progeny as he has also established himself as one of the leading broodmare sires in Australasia.

Zabeel currently heads the 2010-2011 Australian Broodmare Sires Table with A$4.3 million and is already the damsire of 12 individual Group 1 winners: Darci Brahma, Samantha Miss, Faint Perfume, Headturner, Upsetthym, Zabeat, Purple, Sarrera, Cat's Fun, Art Success, Apercu and the 2010 Caulfield Guineas winner, Anacheeva.

Zabeel is the sire of over 30 mares in the Karaka Premier Sale including one of the headline lots, the Pins colt from Grand Echezeaux, the Group 1 winning dam of the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Darci Brahma (Lot 346).

Zabeel is also represented as the damsire of entries such as:

•Lot 68, the colt by Lucky Unicorn from Special Diamond, a sister to Don Eduardo and a three-quarter sister to Octagonal, Kaapstad and Marquise.

• Lot 153, the colt by Fastnet Rock from Akris, a three-quarter sister to the stakes winner Manzeal and a half-sister to the stakes winner Gorky Park.

• Lot 222, the colt by O'Reilly from Cassovia, a sister to the Group 3 winner Activation and a daughter of the Group 1 winner and Champion NZ Sprinter-Miler Coogee Walk.

• Lot 365, the colt by Red Ransom from Imposingly, a three-quarter sister to St Reims and Champagne.

• Lot 379, the colt by Keeper from Just Say Yes, the sister to the Group 1 winner Respect and a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Kindacross.

The New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Series will begin with the Premier Yearling Sale on 31 January & 1 February. The Karaka Select Sale will run from 2 - 4 February with the Karaka Festival Sale on 6 & 7 February.

ENDS

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