Queen Elizabeth on the Cards for Zeyrek

Mark Smith - Saturday March 25

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.

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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.

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Race Result - Furphy Neville Sellwood Stakes Gr3 2000m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 2:04.15
1
Zeyrek
- 6g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Zerkaza (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tim Clark 55
2
1.0
Sunshine Rising
- 9g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Lana Girl (USA) (Arch (USA))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: N Rawiller 56
3
2.5
Gear Up
- 5h Teofilo (IRE) x Gearanai (USA) (Toccet (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: T Marquand 55.5
4
3.2
Benaud
- 4g Reliable Man (GB) x Baggy Green (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: B Prebble 55
5
3.7
Huetor
- 6g Archipenko (USA) x Briviesca (GB) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: M Zahra 58
6
3.8
Magical Lagoon
- 4m Galileo (IRE) x Night Lagoon (GER) (Lagunas (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
7
4.3
Athabascan
- 4h Almanzor (FR) x Alzubra (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
8
4.4
Fancy Man
- 5h Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Fancy (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: C Schofield 55
9
5.8
Cadre Du Noir
- 7g War Front (USA) x Dynamic Feature (USA) (Rahy (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Zac Lloyd 55
10
9.0
Third Realm
- 5h Sea The Stars (IRE) x Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Avdulla 55
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