News

Zabeel Closes in on Sir Tristram's Record

3rd Jan 2010

Breednet - Mark Smith - Friday, 1 January 2010

Prominent owner Nick Moraitis has enjoyed great success with the progeny of Zabeel (NZ), most noticeably Horse Of The Year Might And Power and dual Group 1 winner Fiumicino, and he may well have hit the jackpot again with the improving Rainbow Styling an impressive winner of the Listed Tattersall’s Club Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Friday.

A last start winner at Randwick, Rainbow Styling (Zabeel (NZ) x Done That (NZ) (Centaine) took the step-up to stakes class in his stride, running out a length winner over Hairy(Fuji Kiseki) with a short-half-head back to Spinney (Octagonal) in third place.

“He did everything right today,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. “He’s still learning but has come back bigger and stronger.”

Hawkes indicated the 5yo gelding would most likely take his place in the Listed Frank Underwood Cup(2000m) in two weeks time.

Part-owned by his breeder, Macquarie Stud's David Baxter, Rainbow Styling takes his overall record to 4 wins, 5 seconds and 4 thirds from 18 starts for earnings of $229,830.

A $300,000 purchase at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale, Rainbow Styling is the fifth named foal of the Sydney winning Centaine mare Done That, a three-quarter sister to Listed winner and Sandown Guineas (G2) runner-up Wyndham Special (Centaine) and a half-sister to Reisling Slipper (G2) winner Star Of Nouvelle (Star Watch) and Double Reef (Last Tycoon) a multiple Group 2 winner in South Africa.

Done That is also the dam of the promising 3yo Redoute's Choice filly Zingaling, a Warwick Farm winner and runner-up at Randwick and Gosford in her 3-start career to date.

Done That has an unraced 2yo filly named Chose That (Elusive Quality) and a yearling colt by Danzero. Her Exceed And Excel foal died and she was bred back to the son of Danehill.

Rainbow Styling becomes the 124th stakes-winner for Cambridge Stud's evergreen Zabeel. That puts Zabeel just six behind his legendry father Sir Tristram.

Buyers have the choice of 13 highly credentialed yearlings by Zabeel at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale at Newmarket.