29 Jun 2017
A champion son of legendary Cambridge Stud stallion Zabeel has been secured for stud duty in the Waikato.
Four-time Group One winner Preferment, co-bred and part-owned by Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan, will be a top-notch addition to Nick and Anne-Marie King’s Brighthill Farm.
“We’d been on the look-out for a stallion since Azamour died, but we were determined to sit it out if necessary to find the right one,” Nick King said.
“Preferment fits all our criteria – he was a spectacular racehorse and it’s highly likely that he’s the last Derby-winning son of the great Zabeel.
“He’s a very tidy, athletic type and being a four-time Group One winner says it all. He was a champion Australian stayer and his record, combined with his pedigree, speaks for itself.”
He is by the champion sire of sires Zabeel and has the speed influence of both Flying Spur and Canny Lad on his dam’s side.
Advice from one of the wisest thoroughbred heads in the game also played a part in securing Australia’s champion stayer of the 2015-16 season.
“Last November Sir Patrick Hogan suggested to us that we should try and get Preferment and for him to say that gave us even more confidence,” King said.
“There was a broad ownership in Preferment so it’s taken a while to sort it out and some of the owners have bought others out and we will be standing the horse on their behalf.”
Sold through Cambridge Stud’s 2013 Premier Sale draft at Karaka, Chris Waller went to $190,000 to secure the colt.
Preferment showed an early return on that investment for the champion Sydney trainer when he broke his maiden with victory in the Gr.1 VRC Derby and finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas. The following season he won the Gr.2 Hill Stakes and at his next start claimed top honours in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes.
In the autumn of 2016, Preferment returned to Flemington to reign supreme in the Gr.1 Australian Cup and then back to Sydney to add the Gr.1 The BMW to his imposing record. He retired as the winner of five races and more than $3.6 million in stake earnings.
He will stand at $12,500 plus GST. – NZ Racing Desk