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...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
A busy set of trials at Randwick this morning saw Group I winning stallion Schwarz win a heat in good style in preparation for a Queensland trip, while on the juvenile front there were also a couple of carnival aspirants.
Sires With Winners - Monday May 5
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Millions Off-The-Track Cup Prizemoney Increases to $100,000
Magic Millions co-owner, Katie Page-Harvey and Queensland Off-The-Track Chair, Dr Christine Johnson today confirmed the prizemoney pool for the 2026 QOTT Cup will increase to $100,000.
New HK Stakes-Winner Shamus Award
John Size and Zac Purton combined to win the Group III The Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday with up and coming stayer Bundle Award.
Windsor Park Delighted with First SW Circus Maximus
Promising youngster Towering Vision crowned a successful couple of days for Windsor Park Stud when he credited resident sire Circus Maximus with his first Southern Hemisphere black-type winner.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets Inglis Weanling Sale Alight
The first session of the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale on Monday produced a new overall record price for this sale when a filly by Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside sold for $650,000.
Cambridge Stud Welcome Hello Youmzain First NZ bred SW
Lucy In The Sky delivered a memorable result on multiple fronts with her historic success at Riccarton.
Campionessa Retired - How Much for the G1 Winning Mare?
Group One-winning mare Campionessa has been retired from racing and will be offered at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale later this month.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets New Record at Inglis Weanling Sale
A new record price for the Australian Weanling Sale was set at Riverside today when a Stay Inside x Sheidel filly offered by Noorilim Park sold for $650,000.
Growing Empire Retires to Yulong and Fee Set
One of the most exciting colts of his generation, Growing Empire, will join Yulong Stud’s stallion roster for the 2025 breeding season.