Savabeel Blueblood Zayydani Captures Matriarch Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday November 6

A Breednet One To Watch when winning on debut at Seymour in October 2019, and a Best On Breeding after making it two in a row on the same track three weeks later, Zayydani went winless in nine starts before breaking through at the Gold Coast in June.

Zayydani sticks to the rails (image Grant Courtney)

The daughter of Savabeel then earned her first stakes success in the Listed Tatts's QLD Gold Crown at Eagle Farm and credited the newly formed partnership of Ben and JD Hayes with their first winner.

The 5yo Trelawney Stud homebred took her record to five wins, two seconds, and three thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $428,025 with a brave performance in Saturday’s Group II TAB Matriarch Stakes (2000m).

Advertisement

Luke Nolen went where angels fear to tread, sticking fast to the rails. Zayydani fought on courageously to defeat the Showcasing mare Our Intrigue by half a neck with the More Than Ready (USA) mare Starelle a length back in third.

“It’s really exciting. It was a target race for the stable, and it is just a huge thrill," JD Hayes said.

“It is a great to get a result for the breeders Trelawney Stud's Brent and Cherry Taylor. They’ve got a very valuable Group II winning mare now.

“She was our first winner as a partnership in a race in Queensland and she’s done a great job to come and hold her form into Cup Week. To top it off with a Group II Matriarch is unbelievable.”

Zayydani Luke Nolen (image Grant Courtney)

A half-sister to Yulong Stud's Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas and Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes winner Grunt (O'Reilly) and stakes-placed Addison (Jimmy Choux), Zayydani is one of four winners from as many to race out of Ocean Park's half-sister Ruqqaya (Van Nistelrooy).

Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) went $500,000 to secure Ruqqaya's Tivaci colt out of the Trelawney draft at the 2020 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale. Named Gmork he is in the Danny O’Brien stable.

Ruqqaya has a 2yo Savabeel filly and was covered by Super Seth last spring after missing to Tivaci in 2019.

Advertisment

Race Result - Matriarch Stakes Gr2 2000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 2:04.13
1
Zayydani
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: L Nolen 56
2
0.2
Our Intrigue
- 6m Showcasing (GB) x Forever And Ever (IRE) (Monsun (GER))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
3
1.2
Starelle
- 4m More Than Ready (USA) x Star Of Giselle (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 58
More Than Ready
4
1.3
Bonvicini
- 5m Myboycharlie (IRE) x Orvieto (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
5
1.7
Vanna Girl
- 5m Husson (ARG) x Logan's Choice (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: G Boss 55
6
1.9
Nimalee
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Dezign (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Rachel King 58
7
2.6
Ghodeleine
- 7m Monaco Consul (NZ) x Swan River (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: Patrick Moloney 55
8
2.7
Ecumenical
- 4m Zebedee (GB) x Amalgamate (AUS) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: R W Huxtable Rdr: Damien Thornton 56
9
2.8
Le Lude
- 6m Lope De Vega (IRE) x Second Draw (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Craig Williams 55
10
3.8
Mimi's Award
- 4m Shamus Award (AUS) x Aunt Mimi (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57
11
4.0
Barbie's Fox
- 5m Foxwedge (AUS) x So Barbie Says (AUS) (Kenvain (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Bonella Rdr: Lewis German 55
12
8.3
Charms Star
- 4m Per Incanto (USA) x Anniesstar (NZ) (Zed (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
13
18.3
Mahashakti
- 5m Mahisara (AUS) x Pas De Deux (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: Jordan Childs 55
14
19.8
Princess Jenni
- 6m High Chaparral (IRE) x Glitzabeel (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: N Rawiller 57
More Reading...
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Royally Bred Zayydani Opens Stakes Account
The newly formed partnership of Ben and JD Hayes is off and running, with their first winner coming with Zayydani in Saturday's $200,000 Listed Tattersall's Gold Crown (2137m) at Eagle Farm.
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Zayydani Does It Again in Ballarat Cup
With most of the riders keen to get away from the fence in Saturday's $500,000 Listed Sportsbet Ballarat Cup (2000m), Luke Nolan was gifted a rails run on Zayydani, and the daughter of Savabeel did the rest.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Best On Breeding
The late Steve Brem told the story about his first meeting with the star racehorse and champion broodmare Hunza, who is the fifth dam of a filly vying to become the 100th stakes-winner for the great Savabeel in Saturday’s Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.