BY BLOODSTOCK WORLD STAFF
ZABEEL, a legend of the New Zealand stallion ranks, has died at Cambridge Stud, his home for nearly quarter of a century.
The son of Sir Tristram, who has supplied no fewer than 44 Group 1 winners, passed away peacefully in the paddock he has occupied since 1991. He was 29.
Cambridge Stud owner Sir Patrick Hogan said in a statement on Saturday: "He was a sire who excelled at the very highest level and was able to carry on where his own great sire Sir Tristram had left off.
"Zabeel contributed to the thoroughbred industry and excelled above all expectations and, having enjoyed his retirement for the past few years, he will be sadly missed by all here at Cambridge Stud.
"He will be buried alongside his sire Sir Tristram in the very same tradition, with his tail facing the sunrise and his head facing the sunset.
"Zabeel gave so many people though his progeny the greatest thrill of winning so many races at the highest level. He surpassed all stallions who have come before him, past and present in New Zealand. Four Cox Plates and three Melbourne Cups - what more can you say?
"So a big thank you from us all and God bless, rest in peace."
Out of the Nureyev mare Lady Giselle, Zabeel was trained by Colin Hayes, and then David Hayes, for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum.
He won seven of his 19 starts, including the Australian Guineas - a feat later also accomplished by his half-brother Baryshnikov - plus the Craiglee stakes, Moonee Valley Stakes and Alister Clark Stakes at Group 2 level.
Sheikh Hamdan reportedly wanted either Hogan or Colin Hayes to stand Zabeel as a stallion and invited the two men to submit sealed bids, with Hogan able to take the horse back to his birthplace for NZ$750,060 - marginally more than the NZ$700,000 Hayes had bid.
Zabeel compiled an exceptional progeny record at Cambridge Stud, with his first-crop son Octagonal - a ten-time Group 1 winner who would himself sire 11-time Group 1 winner and Australian champion sire Lonhro in his own first crop - setting the tone for his stud career.
Octagonal is one of four winners of the prestigious Cox Plate by Zabeel, along with Maldivian, Might And Power and Savabeel.
Might And Power also won the Melbourne Cup, as did Zabeel's other offspring Efficient and Jezabeel.
Other stars sired by the stallion include Greys Inn, Lights Of Heaven, Railings, Reset and Vengeance Of Rain.
Zabeel's daughters are a prized commodity, having produced Group 1 winners including Atlantic Jewel, Darci Brahma, Faint Perfume, It's A Dundeel, Ocean Park, Samantha Miss and Silent Achiever.
Zabeel was retired from covering duties in December 2013, having got none of the 30-odd mares sent to him that year in foal, and in January this year Sir Patrick Hogan himself led the final yearling by the sire through the ring at Karaka.
Zabeel's tally of 44 Group 1 winners is only one behind his sire Sir Tristram, an outstanding sire at Cambridge Stud before him.
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