20 Nov 2016
The late great Cambridge Stud stallion Zabeel is still siring Cup winners more than a year after his death following the upset victory of his son Hazzabeel in Sunday's A$130,000 Kilmore Cup.
In what was just his second start for Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher, the $18 chance Hazzabeel surprised punters when he pounced on the leaders after turning for home before running away to win by 1 3/4 lengths from Inspector, with a long neck to favourite The Chairman in third place.
Hazzabeel, who was originally purchased by Gai Waterhouse for $180,000 as a yearling, has spent the majority of his time racing in Western Australia, but was transferred to Maher's stable after finishing last in a 1600m stakes race at Belmont in June.
Former Kiwi rider Michael Dee paid tribute to Maher, last month's Caulfield Cup winning trainer.
"What a super training effort to come here off the back of just one run over 1200m and to rise straight to the mile," Dee said.
"He did it with ease and I was feeling confident a long way out."
The Kilmore Cup victory ended a losing run for more than a year for the six-year-old, who did run fifth in last year's Gr.1 Railway Stakes in Perth before losing his form.
Bred by Valachi Downs' Kevin Hickman, Hazzabeel was the 161st stakes winner for Zabeel. - Andrew Eddy, racing.com