Racing: Zabeel again to make mark

Super sire Zabeel is again set to make his mark at the National Yearlings starting at Karaka today.

The Cambridge Stud stallion has 46 lots over the three days of the premier session.

While it seems unlikely a Zabeel yearling will top the sale, his progeny promise to again attract intense buyer interest, reaping millions of dollars for vendors fortunate enough to be selling them.

Cambridge Stud will offer 18 Zabeel yearlings and studmaster Sir Patrick Hogan expects increased international interest in the champion stallion's stock.

"Over the years he's had a stand-out like the $3.6 million colt [Don Eduardo], but overall this is the best line-up of Zabeels collectively in a catalogue," Sir Patrick said.

"Not only are they one of the best on breeding but also on type. They are all well-conformed horses, set low to the ground."

Stock of Zabeel sold well at the recent Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast in Queensland, giving Sir Patrick optimism his yearlings were in for a bumper sale at Karaka.

"He had a huge lift at Magic Millions with a A$260,000 average, up A$150,000 on last year," Sir Patrick said.

"The level of demand for his fillies is pretty high because people realise he's had a sensational start as a broodmare sire. Zabeel fillies as future broodmares are going to be especially sought after.

"And he's really started to leave his mark in Hong Kong. He's got four or five horses up there headed right to the top. Beethoven will be one of the favourites for the derby.

"The inference I get from Hong Kong is that suddenly Zabeel progeny are the most sought after in Hong Kong, all based on what he's done there in the last 12 to 16 months.

"There's five or six horses up there performing at the very best level."

Sir Patrick said he expected demand for Zabeel stock would intensify as the horse began to wind down his stud career.

"It's fair to say he's not getting any younger. He's 17 and he's probably only got four serving seasons left.

"He's got these yearlings, the foals on the ground and the mares he's served this season, so there's another three crops but there's probably only seven more crops to go through the sales ring.

"Danehill stands out for this sale, but aside from him one sire stands out - Zabeel. He's had 26 group one winners and he can leave colts or fillies. No other living stallion standing at stud in the Southern Hemisphere comes near him."

Sir Patrick was not sure which of Zabeel's yearlings would fetch the best price.

- NZPA