Zabeel's Maluckyday - The Future Looks Bright

The honours to yesterday's milestone
150th Melbourne Cup (3200m) may have rested squarely on the shoulders of the impressive French-trained galloper
Americain (USA), but with his bold effort in second, the future certainly looks bright for
Maluckyday (NZ) (Zabeel) also.

Starting in the race a year earlier than expected owing to his win three days earlier in the
Gr.3 Lexus Stakes, Maluckyday (NZ) looks every bit a star on the rise for owner,
Nick Moraitis - a man who knows a thing or two about stars, having earlier raced the two time
'Australian Horse of the Year', Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel).

Bred by
The Oaks Stud's
Dick Karreman,
Maluckyday (NZ) is best described as a raw talent.

Maluckyday (NZ) as a yearling at The Oaks Stud in 2008.

Despite being believed to be 12 months away from full physical maturity by trainers
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes, the four-year-old gelding has marked his nine raceday outings to date with five wins that include the
Gr.3 VRC Lexus Stakes (2500m) and the
Listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m), and with the important runner-up performance in Australia's greatest race.

"It was a fantastic result for such a young horse," said The Oaks Stud's General Manager, Rick Williams following Maluckyday's Melbourne Cup outing.

"He was fairly beaten by the winner Americain (USA), but he did pass the best horse I have ever seen in So You Think (NZ) (third).

Wayne, John and Michael Hawkes.

"He was a stunning yearling. You could not fault him," said Williams.

"I would rate him alongside Pure Theatre as the best yearling we have taken to a sale.

Encouragingly,
Maluckyday's Darci Brahma half-brother bound for
Karaka in
2011 is also shaping up nicely.

"He is certainly one of the better colts in the draft. He is a really nice individual," Williams said.

Looking ahead,
Maluckyday's Gr.2 winning
Yachtie dam,
Natalie Wood (NZ), is due to foal to
The Oaks Stud resident stallion
Darci Brahma, and the current thought is that she may then have one attempt at getting in-foal to
Zabeel at the end of the season.

Natalie Wood (NZ) was herself a talented racemare, but unfortunately broke down in the
Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks following her win in the
Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), where she defeated the Gr.1 gallopers
Penny Gem (NZ) and
Bramble Rose (NZ).

Maluckyday's owner, Nick Moraitis

"I've always been fascinated by the Yachtie / Star Way cross and to me, she had looked a high class galloper."

Natalie Wood's possible visit to
Zabeel could represent the mare's third successful date with the champion
Cambridge Stud sire, having produced the filly
Woodshebe (NZ) the season before
Maluckyday (NZ).

Retained and raced by the stud,
Woodshebe (NZ) has won one race, but has not been seen on the racetrack since December of 2009.

"She had a fetlock injury and had to have screws put in. She's a bit like the $6million man - she's all wired up. It was a straight forward procedure though," Williams commented.

"She is due to start from the stable of Stephen McKee soon and if she stays sound, I think she could be an open class horse."

Further representation from
Natalie Wood (NZ) will also seen in the days ahead from a yet unnamed three-year-old
Traditionally gelding.

"He's with Ralph Manning and is very close to starting. We still own him, so he'll probably be named this week," said Williams.

Article courtesy of NZ Thoroughbred Marketing