Group Three Winner for Zabeel

Media Release - Saturday January 13

The connections of Von Tunzelman will let the dust settle on their Trentham celebrations before confirming the handsome grey's immediate future.

On Saturday, the Roger James-trained son of Zabeel claimed his most important victory to date when he was downed Devise and Benzini in the Group III Miss Reef Trentham Stakes (2100m). (photo Trish Dunell). 

Raced by incoming Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Von Tunzelman holds a nomination for the upcoming Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thomson Auckland Cup (3200m).

"We're over the moon, he's probably been a bit unlucky in his last couple of runs," James' racing manager Robert Wellwood said. "He needs an uninterrupted run and it panned out beautifully today.

"Roger has taken his time with the horse and he showed us he was a stayer in the making when he won last season's Kaimai Stakes.

"We'll see how he pulls up and then Roger will make a decision where he goes."

Advertisement

Von Tunzelman enjoyed a good run in midfield before rider Leith Innes angled him into the clear across the top and they came with a well-timed finish in the straight.

"They went pretty hard up front and I was able to get out 500m from home," he said. "He's got a bright future, maybe a cup race next."

Von Tunzelman finished in behind the major players in two Melbourne starts in the spring and showed he was on the verge of winning form on his return with an encouraging run for seventh in the Group II Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

"We got to the 700m and the track was a bit greasy and lost a few lengths, but he hit the line strongly in the last 200m," Innes said. – NZ Racing Desk.


Advertisment
More Reading...
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.