Zayydani Does It Again in Ballarat Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday November 20

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.

A third stakes success for Zayydani (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

In a driving finish, Zayydani defeated the topweight Yonkers (Medaglia d'Oro) by a half head with Vanna Girl (Husson), a short head back in third.

Trained by Ben and JD Hayes, Zayydani is in the form of her life.

Advertisement

She enjoyed a similar run when winning the Group II Matriarch Stakes at Flemington at her most recent start.

The 5yo Trelawney Stud homebred advances her record to six wins, two seconds, and three thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $729,725.

"I think it is full credit to Luke," Ben Hayes said.

"She didn't go around one horse again, and that gap she took up the straight was very tight.

"She just showed how tough she is, and she was so strong through the line.

"It’s such a big thrill. Well done to all the team. My brother in Hong Kong, JD - he’ll be thrilled.

“Mr Brightside is the pin-up boy of the stable, and she’s the pin-up girl.

“For her to come and win and give them (the owners) a win like that with good prize money, just shows what a champ she is.

“This is an add on. The Grand Final was the Matriarch, and she came through that so well we thought we would have a crack at the Ballarat Cup, and gee, she was impressive.”

Zayydani (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Luke Nolen praised the mare for taking the gap.

“I had to tie the mirrors in a bit today because it was a bit tighter than it was at Flemington the other day,” Nolen said.

“Credit to Lindsay Park. They’ve kept her in great shape, and she peaked for that run at Flemington. But they kept her in the right form, we were afforded the right runs, and she was very good again.

“She enhances her pedigree again.”

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 - Ballarat Cup LR 2000m

Ballarat Track: Good(4) Time: 2:05.19
1
Zayydani
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: L Nolen 57.5
2
0.1
Yonkers
- 6g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Anne Of Kiev (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: D Oliver 60
3
0.2
Vanna Girl
- 5m Husson (ARG) x Logan's Choice (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: Zac Spain 55.5
4
0.9
Thought Of That
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Hold Me Closer (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54.5
5
1.2
Foxy Frida
- 4m Foxwedge (AUS) x Family Portrait (AUS) (Excellent Art (GB))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: D Moor 54
6
1.4
Skyman
- 6g Mukhadram (GB) x Skyrider (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
7
2.2
Pappalino
- 6g Makfi (GB) x Bartira (GB) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Declan Bates 54
8
3.2
In A Twinkling
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Moment In Time (AUS) (Archway (IRE))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: C Newitt 58
9
3.6
Double You Tee
- 7g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Kandy Korn (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: M J Dee 56
10
3.8
Bartholomeu Dias
- 7g Mount Nelson (GB) x Lady Francesca (GB) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: H Coffey 54
11
4.8
Charleise
- 5m Foxwedge (AUS) x Adio (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
12
8.8
Defibrillate
- 7g Shocking (AUS) x Our Chickaroonie (NZ) (Groom Dancer (USA))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 59.5
13
9.3
Flash Aah
- 6g Lucas Cranach (GER) x Never Despair (AUS) (Hotel Grand (AUS))
Tnr: M A Kropp Rdr: Madeleine Wishart 54
14
13.3
Princess Jenni
- 6m High Chaparral (IRE) x Glitzabeel (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
15
15.0
Ghodeleine
- 7m Monaco Consul (NZ) x Swan River (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
More Reading...
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.
First Foal for Hilal Delights Grangewilliam Stud
The first foal by Grangewilliam Stud’s Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal arrived on Thursday morning with a filly born out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 6
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!