Zabeelionaire has an enormous future in the staying ranks and he began fulfilling that potential in the G1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Zabeelionaire (3c Zabeel – Kisumu by Carnegie) didn’t go around a horse while railing up to win the classic from Sabrage and Westsouthwest. He became the 42nd Group 1 winner for Zabeel who is now only three Group 1 winners behind his own sire Sir Tristram.
The Cambridge Stud champion is now well-placed to claim a 15th Dewar Award Trophy. That title is won by the NZ-based sire whose progeny earn the most in NZ and Australian combined.
The Adelaide prizemoney coupled with the second placing by Lights of Heaven in the G2 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast, will certainly boost his prospects for a 15th award.
Sir Tristram won 9 Dewar Award Trophies during his career.
Zabeelionaire became the second Derby winner this year to be bred by WA based Trevor Delroy. He is also the owner-breeder of last month’s G1 Australian Derby winner Ethiopia.
The SA Derby winner sold through the Yarraman Park for 250,000 at the 2010 Inglis Easter yearling sale. He is the first foal of the Pat Carey trained Kisumu who was G2 placed behind champion filly Miss Finland in the Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield.
Kisumu has a 2yo filly and yearling filly by Zabeel and she foaled a colt by the Cambridge Stud champion last year.