16 Mar 2017
Promising stayer Lizzie L'Amour has provided Cambridge Stud stallion great Zabeel with a New Zealand record, becoming his 46th individual Group One winner when she upset the applecart to snare the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.
The win took Zabeel one ahead of his illustrious sire Sir Tristram after the Cambridge Stud stalwarts had been tied on 45 Group One winners apiece since Provocative's Queensland Oaks triumph last winter.
Four-year-old mare Lizzie L'Amour overcame a torrid beginning that saw her buffeted among runners as riders jostled for a handy position in the early stages of the contest.
After eventually finding a handy position in a muddling run race, rider Matt Cameron bided his time before asking his charge to swoop into contention on the point of the home turn and she was able stave off a brave late run from Benzini to score by a half head.
An overjoyed Lorna Moore who bred and co-owns the mare with husband Gary was finding it hard to take in what her star performer had just achieved.
"This is unbelievable and I'm just so thrilled," she said.
"It's not only a Group One for us and Lizzie, but it's also for Zabeel who was tied with his sire Sir Tristram for individual Group One winners up until now so this one is for him as well.
"I would have been happy to just run a place but this means everything to a small breeder."
Moore has been a loyal supporter of Zabeel, having enjoyed Group One success through his daughter Bazelle in the Auckland Cup and Zabeel Classic in 2005.
Co-trainer Andrew Forsman was also sporting a wide smile after the victory.
"It was a very good effort as they went hard at it leaving the straight the first time and it got quite messy," said Forsman, who trains in partnership with Murray Baker.
"It actually panned out all right as they went a lot harder than we thought which suited her as she's a real staying mare. It became a staying test with two of the better ones fighting it out."
Forsman admitted the stable had been confident of a good performance.
"We knew she was good enough, it was really a matter of whether she was ready this time in or was it going to be in her next preparation," he said.
"Thankfully she got the job done and is a Group One winner now. She's got it all ahead of her so now it's a matter of finding the right distance for her as if she can get to 2400m, then a Caulfield Cup could be a spring target for her." - NZ Racing Desk