Hogan has powerful influence in Zabeel
There are a number of reasons to believe the Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie today could be a homecoming in one way or another.
The super sire whose name the race carries stood at Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud where the son of Sir Tristram produced a host of Group I winners.
The legendary stallion passed away in his paddock just over a year ago.
Zabeel doesn’t have any runners in today’s race – his grandson Sound Proposition by Savabeel is a runner – but the Cambridge Stud influence is powerful.
Hogan will have everything crossed that his mare Abidewithme can add a Group I win to her already impressive list of achievements.
She is a royal Cambridge Studbred, the product of a mating between outstanding Australian sire Redoubte’s Choice and Crimson, a Group II winning daughter of Zabeel himself.
If Abidewithme can’t do the job, stock of Zabeel’s heir apparent at Cambridge Stud Tavistock hold a commanding presence in the race.
‘‘I think I’ve got an association with five or six runners in the field,’’ Hogan said.
He is a co-owner of the second favourite Hasselhoof, a son of Tavistock, but another son of Tavistock in Volkstk’n’barrell is the horse Hogan thinks is the major danger to Abidewithme.
‘‘I think the horse of the field is Volkstok’n’barrell,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s a proven Group I horse.’’
If Volkstok’n’barrell can’t get the job done Tavistock has strong back-up in his promising daughter Stylish Attack, another with a Cambridge Stud flavour but the influence doesn’t stop there.
Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan bred Bel Sorriso, by another of their sires, Keeper, out of the Zabeel mare Balbeel and they sold her to clients of Levin trainer Grant Searle for a bargain price of $5000.
The 5-year-old mare has won eight races andmore thasn $180,000.
But it is in Abidewithme who carries a positive pregnancy test to Tavistock, that Hogan has faith to put a slight spring in his step.
He will be at Ellerslie but is still struggling with his recovery from a recent back operation.
‘‘I’m getting better by the day and if Abidewithme wins the pain might be gone for an hour or so,’’ he said.
‘‘But I’m running out of time for the mare to get a Group I. In saying that, I won’t be disappointed if she doesn’t because she has done a great job already.’’
Abidewithme has won nine of her 34 starts including the Group II Travis Stakes as well as placings in the last two runnings of the Group I NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.
‘‘They [trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards] tell me she is better than she was before she went to Trentham,’’ Hogan said.
Her trainers were disappointed things didn’t go to plan in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m).
‘‘She’s a mare who can get a bit one-paced on us over those shorter trips,’’ Richards said. ‘‘Stepping up to 2000 metres is ideal and Michael Mcnab is back on board. He gets on well with her. She came out of that run well and we’re confident she will run a big race.’’
If Abidewithme doesn’t win, she might get another crack at Group I glory in the Thorndon Mile next month.