Elation for the Z family as Arabian Beat gets the better of Shaama (JC Photos)
Trainer Dominic Zaki broke the early Australian strangehold on the Champions Day features at Turffontein when the Ascot Stud-bred Arabian Beat outgunned Mike De Kock’s filly Shaama in the fight to the wire to win the R1 million Gr1 SA Nursery.
The winner started at 20-1 and provided apprentice Craig Zackey with a career first Gr1 winner –the young man made no bones about demonstrating his natural elation at achieving this career milestone as he punched the air in a joyous salute, a good five strides before the line. He will no doubt have a fine to pay.
Racing in the popular Zackey gold and black, Arabian Beat had shown plenty of natural pace in his first two starts but was expected to be up against it in a decent field that included Protea Stakes winner Redcarpet Captain and the Snaith’s Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Buckinghampshire, who was to prove disappointing again.
Piere Strydom had the favourite Isca out flying down the inside and the pacy son of Var led the charge.
Anthony Delpech had Shaama in touch, while Arabian Beat had settled well down the outside and was three lengths off the gallop alongside Buckinghampshire.
Arabian Beat moved up smoothly and joined Shaama in front at the 300m as the pressure started to tell in the sticky underfoot conditions.
Craig Zackey – congratulations and celebrations!
Riding for his life, and a marginally less composed than the stylish Delpech next to him, Zackey wasn’t going to let this big fish off the hook and Arabian Beat responded smartly to his urgings.
Arabian Beat went on best to put paid to many Pick 6 hopes as he scored by a length in a time of 67,27 secs.
The filly Shaama was gallant in defeat, while another maiden (a Gr1 placer for Great Britain) Mystical Twilight ran third.
The previously unbeaten Redcarpet Captain ran fourth without threatening, while the eventual weak favourite Isca ran downfield and out of the money.
Arabian Beat has won 2 of his 3 starts for stakes of R718125. He also benefitted from the generous BSA Added Value Stakes Bonus of R150 000.
A R70 000 buy for Zaki Racing Stables at the National Two Year Old Sale in 2014, the Ascot Stud-bred Arabian Beat is a son of Black Minnaloushe out of the unraced daughter of Al Muft Arabian Design – a full sister to Arabian Lass, who was trained by Tony Millard, and is the granddam of one of this week’s sales recordbreakers (#41) – a Dynasty colt who sold for R4,25 million.
Arabian Lass raced for the interests of Mr P Ekon, for 4 Gr1 wins AND two ARCSA Champion awards. She was subsequently sold to Robert Sangster’s Swettenham Stud operation and retired to stud.
The Zackey’s – and the Zaki’s – are partying – and they deserve it.
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Gr1 SA Nusery (SAf-Gr1)
Turffontein, South Africa, April 25, R1 million, 1160m, turf, soft, 1.07.27
1 – ARABIAN BEAT (SAF), 58.0, b c 2, Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Arabian Design (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA). Owner Mr K & Mrs L R A Zackey; Breeder Ascot Stud; trainer D Zaki; jockey C Zackey
2 – Shaama (AUS), 55.5, b f 2, Redoute’s Choice (AUS) – Absolut Glam (AUS) by Snowland (AUS)
3 – Mystical Twilight (SAF), 58.0, b c 2, Great Britain (IRE) – Fading Light (SAF) by Bel Byou (IRE)
Margins: 1.00, 4.60, 0.80
