Blueblooded import Zeyrek (FR) may have earned a shot at the Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes on day two of the Championships at Randwick following his win in the Group III Furphy Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Zeyrek wins a touch cosily (image Steve Hart)
Ridden by Tim Clark for Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes, the 6yo son of Sea The Stars defeated Sunshine Rising (FR) (Myboycharlie) by a length with Gear Up (IRE) (Teofilo) a length and a half back in third.
The runner-up at his most recent start in the Group III Sky High Stakes, Zeyrek (FR) advanced his record to five wins, three seconds, and a third from 20 starts with earnings of $475,722.
“He put the writing on the wall last start; he just drew a bad gate that day,” Michael Hawkes said.
“Unfortunately, he had to go back today, but he’s got a good turn of foot.
“I’d love to see him draw a barrier because if he can possie up midfield or even better, you’ll see a different horse.
“Last prep never went right for us; everything went wrong. This prep, everything has gone so right; he’s just put everything up in lights. He’s definitely going somewhere. He’s a really nice horse in the making.
“He might run in the QE (Queen Elizabeth). It’s a race we’ve always had thoughts of. We tried to stretch him out over a bit of ground, but he’s just got such a good turn of foot, he’s very explosive. Especially over 2000m at Randwick, I think he will be something special. I know it’s going to be a tough race, but it’s there, and we’ll decide as we get closer. It’s pretty exciting to have a horse of this quality.
“You’ve got to be in it to win it, but we’re just happy he won today, and he’s really turned the corner.”
The Aga Khan-bred son of Sea The Stars had two wins and two stakes placing in four starts in France for Alain de Royer-Dupre.
Purchased as a northern hemisphere 3yo by Rupert Legh and partners, Zeyrek (FR) is the only one of six foals out of the unraced Dalakhani mare Zerkaza to reach the track.
A half-sister to three stakes winners, including the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Zarak (Dubawi), Zerkaza is a daughter of Zarkava, the Horse of the Year in Europe in 2008; Champion 3YO Filly in Europe in 2008; Champion 2YO Filly & 3YO Filly in France in 2007 & 2008.
Yulong has two half-sisters to Zeyrek, the Exceed And Excel mare Zerenda (FR) and the Fastnet Rock mare Zerziyna.
