5 Win Wednesday - Win 4 Zantabulous Fabulous

Beautiful grey filly Zantabulous (3 f Almanzor - Zantelagh, by Zabeel) made a winning debut in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 mares (eligible $13,000 bonus) on Waharoa Race Day at Matamata.

Having let down strongly to win a trial (Heavy10) on 6 September at Tauranga, she shaped to race well fresh-up if appreciative of the heavy footing and ridden by the Champion Jockey from last season, Michael McNab, was able to oblige.

Tracking through one-off nearing the home turn, after travelling fifth, Zantabulous descended upon stable-mate and race favourite Romancing The Moon (El Roca), who finished second at her previous start in The O'Learys Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1200m), and parcelled the race up nicely.

“She did everything spot on, she's got some gears and she's genuine too,” said McNab, on unsaddling.

On Heavy10 footing, she ran 1200 metres in 1:16.3, last 600m in 37.9, and paid $7.00 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She skipped over the ground beautifully today,” said trainer Mark Walker. “She's a well-bred filly that will keep improving once she gets over more distance, as well.

“She's a lightly framed filly, but a filly that will stay.”

Owned by Te Akau Zantabulous Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was bought by David Ellis CNZM for $220,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, which stands the highly credentialed stallion Almanzor (Wootton Bassett).

“She's out of a nice young Zabeel mare that is already doing a good job at stud and we trained the half-sister to this filly, Irish Cream (O'Reilly), who was very talented but unfortunately she was injured after winning her first start by eight lengths and didn't race again,” Ellis said.

“Her grand-dam Dantelagh was a great city sprinter in Australia, and there is a very good line-up of sires in the pedigree.”

By one of the best credentialed stallions to shuttle to New Zealand in the last decade, Almanzor (Wotton Bassett) was European Champion Three-Year-Old and claimed the same titles in Ireland and France.

Her dam Zantelagh, a three-time winner to 1800 metres in Australia, is by Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), a quality influence in the pedigree of any horse that cannot be underestimated - and in many instances cannot be beaten.

Grand-dam Dantelah, by Champion Sire Volksraad (Green Desert), was a Group One winning sprinter in Australia, multiple placed at Group One & Two levels, and a grand sprinting mare that won eight races while always competed against the best.

The filly carries a cross of brilliant sire Nureyev (Northern Dancer), a stallion renowned for injecting quality into any breed, the ability to accelerate, and some beautiful movers.

Zantabulous was strapped by Mallesh Saddari.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz