Zephyron (NZ) scored a timely win at Cranbourne on Friday just hours after Cambridge Stud launched its video footage for the 2012 NZB Karaka Sale.  

The Mark Kavanagh trained colt zoomed home to score first-up after a 31 week spell in the SRS Motors Maiden (1300m).  He had over a length to spare from Mossman Blitz (Mossman) and Frantic (Barely A Moment).

Cambridge Stud’s Sir Patrick Hogan has catalogued a High Chaparral half-sister to Zephyron at the 2012 Karaka Sale.

Zephyron (3c Zabeel – Diamond Like by Danehill) topped the 2010 Karaka Sale at $2 million.  “What attracted me was his quality,” agent James Bester said immediately after signing the sale sheet.  “And being from Cambridge Stud, I had every confidence spending that sort of money.”

Kavanagh prepares him for a syndicate that includes John Camilleri, Lou Macri, Ananda Krishnan and Hogan.  Macri is also a partner in Kavanagh’s unbeaten filly Atlantic Jewel.

Zephyron’s dam Diamond Like was a Listed winner of the 2003 Lightning Hcp at Trentham and she was also G1 placed behind Surprize Surprize in the 2004 Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha.  She’s a direct descendant of iconic broodmare Eight Carat through G1 winners Diamond Lover (Sticks and Stones) and Tristalove (Sir Tristram).

“Physically, he’s the best yearling I have ever seen in the southern hemisphere,” Bester claimed at Karaka.  “He also presented with the best pedigree page in the sale.”

Apart from the High Chaparral filly, Cambridge will offer 18 of Zabeel’s 32 Premier Sale entries at the 2012 Karaka Sale.

Zabeel’s G1 racehorse and sire Don Eduardo still holds the Australasian record for the highest priced yearling ever sold at auction.  He made $3.60 million at the 2000 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Premier Sale.