Zanbagh Too Strong in Tibbie Stakes

Mark Smith - Friday September 15

It seems a lifetime ago when Zanbagh came off a Ballarat maiden win to finish second to Kirramosa in the Group 1 Victorian Oaks.

In the meantime, the 7yo daughter of Bernardini (USA) has collected a pair of wins in the Group II Emancipation Stakes as well as ringing up number one in the Group 111 Keith F Nolan Classic.

While a win at the elite level has proven elusive, Zanbagh has banked over $1.2 million for the Tait family.

Advertisement

At a time when most of her contemporaries are lining up for their third or fourth season at stud, Zanbagh was lining up for her 41st start in Friday's Group III Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle.


Carrying the top weight of 58.5 kgs the John Thompson-trained mare was stuck out on a limb, three wide without cover for the trip but still proved a half-length good for Ron Leemon's Perfect Rhyme (Poet's Voice) with a further half-length back to the Kim Waugh-trained Hetty Heights (Written Tycoon). (photos Steve Hart).

It advances the record of Zanbagh to 7 wins, 5 seconds and 2 thirds from 41 starts with earnings of $1,243,295.

"She's a great mare," Thompson said.

"She's consistent and she was probably the class horse of the field when Kris' mare (Invincible Gem) came out.

"She had a good horses weight and barrier 18 but she had Hugh Bowman on her back."

Hugh Bowman said his confidence was high despite the mare failing to beat a runner home in the Tramway Stakes.

"I gave her a pretty good chance because I finished close to her on McCreery in the Tramway, the race wasn't run to suit us last start and she finished just beside me," Bowman said.

"It was an awkward draw and she had to do all the work herself but she is a very well-performed mare and I thought she was well placed here today."

Thompson said the Group I Epsom Handicap on September 30 would likely be the next start for Zanbagh.

Carrying the colours made famous by champions such as Tie the Knot, Baguette, Cabochon and Spinning Hill, Zanbagh is one of three winners from as many to race out of the Group I AJC Australian Oaks winner Wild Iris (Spectrum), who died in 2014.

Her final foal is the 4yo New Approach gelding Zardalu who won two of his four starts. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Debut Winner for King’s Legacy
King’s Legacy posted a seventh first crop winner on Friday with a fast finishing debut victory at Goulburn for talented gelding Nothing But Net.
Little Avondale’s Weanlings Follow Successful Footsteps
Graduates of Little Avondale Stud’s drafts at the NZB National Weanling Sale have a proud record of racetrack success, and stud principal Sam Williams believes his class of 2025 compares favourably with previous years.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Derby
It’s been 15 years since Dariana thumped the colts to win the Queensland Derby (2400m) in 2010 and maybe it’s time for another filly to triumph!
Expensive Ghaiyyath Colt Wins Stakes
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) had his first Australian winner earlier this week and overnight produced a new stakes-winner in the UK where Godolphin owned colt Opera Ballo won the Listed Heron Stakes (1m)at Sandown.
King’s Legacy Filly Wins by Three
The Lindsay Park team produced an impressive juvenile winner at Pakenham on Thursday evening with King’s Legacy filly Bella Pietra winning as she pleased.
One to Watch – Bendigo
A flashy chestnut filly with a bit of the Apache Cat’s about her was an eye-catching five length debut winner at Bendigo on Friday for the Ciaron Maher stable.
Sires With Winners - Thursday May 29
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were six heats for juveniles at the Randwick trials on Friday and some interesting unraced winners including a $1.45million colt by Extreme Choice and a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly bred to win an Oaks..
Sires With Winners - Friday May 30
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Investing in Fillies Can Pay Big Dividends
We saw it earlier this month at Inglis Chairman’s Sale and we saw it again this week, purchasing yearling fillies that can perform to a high level has the potential to yield a big pay day in the sale ring, so let’s take a closer look.