9 Nov 2007
Champion Cambridge Stud sire
Zabeel capped another golden Melbourne spring racing carnival with the win by
Zavite in the Group 2 A$251,500 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) on the final day of the Victoria Racing Club's Cup carnival at Flemington racecourse on Saturday.
Zavite's win came just four days after another son of Zabeel, the Graeme Rogerson-trained Efficient, captured the winner's cheque in the A$5 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Trainer Anthony Cummings believes Zavite will be an ideal contender for next year's Melbourne Cup.
With today's win under his belt, together with his second in the Geelong Cup, Zavite is now fully qualified for next year's Melbourne Cup.
"We've got a few choices to make but I would certainly love to see him back here next year and be in the main event," said Cummings.
"We only just missed out this year."
"I do think his best days are still in front of him and like a lot of Zabeel's they take a while to mature."
"He's of that mould so I'd like to be back here next year."
At the 400m mark, Zavite got the better of Cefalu and held on strongly under pressure but Cefalu was also impressive in the way it fought hard over the final 100 metres.