11/3/10
Memo from Max:
Ahhhhhh...It is funny how we all 'claim' a winner. It is entertaining to see how the media in Australia and New Zealand compete with each other for 'ownership' of successful horses. Read the next two paragraphs about Zavite and you will see what I mean. Zavite was bred in New Zealand but has done most of it's racing in Australia.
(From TVNZ) Australian-based horse Zavite has won the $1 million Group One Auckland Cup race at Ellerslie. Zavite finished ahead of Booming while Tin Goose was third.
(From Racing and Sprts Australia) Thursday, 11 March 2010: Sydney stayer Zavite put a dent in New Zealand pride on Wednesday when he became yet another Australian galloper to win a Kiwi Group One race with a dominant performance in the $1 million Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.
Although the 7YO Zabeel gelding is NZ-bred, it was an all Australian triumph as he is trained at Randwick by Anthony Cummings and was ridden by Melbourne champion Damien Oliver.
Zavite proved a class above his opponents to win in one of the fastest times for the race in recent years.
Carrying top weight of 57.5kg, Zavite covered the 3200m in 3:18.96 to give Oliver another major New Zealand trophy to go with the Wellington Cup he won aboard Ed in 1995.
The 37-year-old Oliver had not ridden a winner in New Zealand for 10 years with his previous Kiwi success being in the 1998 NZ Derby on So Casual, however Oliver was aboard the Paul Perry-trained Dantelah in the 1999 Group 1 Telegraph Stakes when relegated to second on protest in a controversial decision.
In contrast to Zavite's usual on pace pattern, a fast early pace saw Oliver settle him back in twelfth position until the 700m when he set the gelding alight.
Zavite showed sparkling acceleration to sprint past the leaders on the home turn and opened a winning break of three lengths that he maintained down the long Ellerslie straight.
Zavite powered to the line three and a quarter lengths clear of Glen Boss' mount Booming with the outsider Tin Goose third with last year's winner Spin Around fourth.
Oliver said he never had any worries despite settling back in the field.
“They went pretty hard from the gate and I thought I'd pop in behind them and get him to relax,” said the champion Melbourne rider.
“He settled nice and coming to the turn I had some good chances in front of me, but they weren't going near as good as this bloke.
“He just cruised up and was jogging on the turn. He kicked well, I might have gone a bit early, but he was just going so well.
“It was a comprehensive win and a good effort under the weight.”
Zavite, winner of last year's Adelaide Cup, returned to winning form at Moonee Valley at his previous start.
He could have gone back to Morphettville last Monday for another Adelaide Cup assault but Cummings opted for the New Zealand trip because of the bigger prizemoney.
“It is one million dollars, and even if it's Kiwi it's still good,” he said.
“I left the riding decisions to Damien. He helped him carry the weight and made the right move coming toward the turn.”
Zavite was purchased by Cummings as a yearling at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2004 for $80,000. He has now won ten of his fifty starts for earnings of $1.1 million.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment