4 Nov 2023Highly regarded colt Zabmanzor turned potential into performance at Tauranga where he impressively opened his winning account.
The three-year-old thumped his older rivals with a runaway victory over 1400 metres at just his third race day appearance.
“He’s a horse we’ve liked from day one and he’s a beautiful mover,” said Rober Wellwood, who trains Zabmanzor with Roger James.
“We first stepped him out at the races only having had one trial and he probably needed a couple of races to get his head around what it’s all about.
“It was nice to see him put the pedal to the metal and get the job done.”
Zabmanzor drifted back in the field before rider Masa Hashizume urged him around the field before the turn.
The three-year-old strode to the front 200 metres from home and romped clear to score by a widening 3.3l with connections to ponder his immediate future over the next couple of days.
“He still holds a nom for the 2000 Guineas and obviously it’s not ideal going down a week after his maiden win, you never say never but it’s probably unlikely,” Wellwood said.
Bred and raced by the Struthers family, Zabmanzor is the first winner for the unraced Savabeel mare Zaborei and a family that the stable knows well.
The dam is out of a sister to Hera, who James prepared to win at Group 2 level in the Eight Carat Classic and Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic before the daughter of O’Reilly was sold to Australian interests.
Zabmanzor boasts a deep pedigree that also features the G1 Australian Cup winner Dandy Andy, Polanski, who claimed an edition of the G1 VRC Derby and the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner and former champion juvenile Ballroom Babe.