Kiwi Bred Le Zebra Scores at Flemington

Media Release - Saturday July 20

Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Le Zebra turned his form around in style at Flemington on Saturday with a runaway victory in the A$150,000 VRC Member Michael Murphy Trophy (1700m).

Le Zebra was back at his winning best at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Grant Courtney

The grey son of Rip Van Winkle showed real promise as a two-year-old, collecting victories at Sandown and Flemington in a four-start campaign last year. But his form fell away in the early stages of his three-year-old season, finishing seventh in the Gr.3 McNeil Stakes (1200m), 15th in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m), eighth in a 1400m handicap at Flemington and 10th in a 1600m handicap at the same venue.

A close last-start fourth in the Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m) on July 6 hinted at a turnaround for Le Zebra, and on Saturday he was right back on top of his game.

Ridden by Damian Lane for expat Kiwi trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne, Le Zebra was awkwardly drawn in gate 12 among a 14-horse field. But Lane pressed forward in the early stages of the race and was able to easily slot into a perfect position one out and one back.

It was smooth sailing from there, and when Lane released the brakes in the home straight, Le Zebra bounded to the lead and raced away to win by five lengths with his ears pricked.

“Emma-Lee and David have done a great job,” Lane said. “I trialled him early in the preparation and his performance was only fair, and then he raced accordingly. They’ve done really well to turn him around in this preparation and get him winning like that here at Flemington today.

“The race worked out really well. Being drawn wide, I thought there was no sense in dropping all the way back. I chanced the arm and tried to get in, and fortunately that eventuated. I was very confident from there. He was always travelling comfortably and I knew I could get into the race when I wanted to. He finished it off really strongly.”

Le Zebra has now had 10 starts for three wins and a placing, earning A$286,000 for a big group of owners. An enthusiastic contingent of them were on course at Flemington on Saturday, some wearing large zebra heads.

Advertisement

“We’ve got a brilliant ownership group involved with this horse,” Emma-Lee Browne said. “They’ve had to be very, very patient and they’ve stuck it out through some ups and downs. It’s just fantastic to see the horse back doing what he should be doing.

“David rides him every day and has done a huge amount of work to try to get him to settle better and do things right. It’s been a real team effort.

“Damian gave him a beautiful ride to get into that spot, and he won very well. We’re over the moon.

“We’ll just take him home now and look after him, and hopefully we can keep him going into the spring.”

Le Zebra is out of the My Halo mare Angel Del Dinero, who herself was a winner and finished second in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

Le Zebra is the fourth winner from five foals to race out of Angel Del Dinero, who is also the dam of the Brownes’ four-race winner Bifrost, a son of Turn Me Loose. The Brownes bought Bifrost for $40,000 at Karaka 2020, followed by the $60,000 purchase of his half-brother Le Zebra two years later from the draft of Windsor Park Stud.

Adding to their investment in the family, the Brownes secured Angel Del Dinero for $26,000 in an online auction on gavelhouse.com. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
G1 Possible Goal for Le Zebra (NZ)
Smart two-year-old Le Zebra will be considered for a tilt at the Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 10 after another strong on-speed metropolitan victory when scoring over 1400m at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.