Post-Race Analysis:
November 18, 2001 - Camden, South Carolina: Augustin Stables'
Lord Zada dominated the 32nd edition of the $100,000 Colonial Cup,
establishing a new stakes record while defeating All Gong (GB) by
15 1/2 lengths. Al Skywalker, who captured the Grade I Carolina
Cup over the same course this spring, led the 11-horse field for
a good portion of the race but faded through the stretch to finish
third. Lord Zada took just 5:05.6 to complete the 2 and 3/4 miles
test over 17 natural brush fences, 1 and 2/5ths of a second faster
than the previous track record of 5:07 set by Ninepins (at age 12)
in 1999.
When Lord Zada cruised under the finish line he captured the Colonial
Cup for George Strawbridge's Augustin Stables for the first time
in 24 years. Augustin Stables had previously captured the Colonial
Cup in 1975 and 1977 with Cafe Prince. During the 24-year period
that had elapsed since Cafe Prince's last victory, Augustin Stables
had been the leading steeplechase owner in America 17 times.
Cold Cat and Craig Thornton led the race initially setting fast
fractions over parched ground that was rock-hard due to drought
conditions that persisted in South Carolina this fall. Al Skywalker
took command as the field straightened away down the backside the
last time. Walkin N' Memphis grabbed the lead briefly going around
the last turn, while Lord Zada made steady progress along the rail.
As the field came out of the turn Lord Zada shot to the front and
was never challenged. All Gong passed tiring horses through the
stretch, but the issue was never in doubt as Lord Zada lengthened
his advantage over the last two fences.
|
|
Lord Zada winning the Grade I Colonial Cup under jockey
Gus Brown. (Marc Karzan photo)
|
Lord Zada is trained by this year's leading (by money won) steeplechase
conditioner, Sanna Neilson, and was ridden by this year's leading
steeplechase jockey, Gus Brown. Brown, who was also the champion
steeplechase rider last year, was hurt in a three-horse fall two
races before the Colonial Cup but persevered despite his injuries.
"I think my ribs might be broken," he said after the Colonial Cup.
"But I didn't want to tell anyone," for fear that he might
not be allowed to ride Lord Zada in the feature race. Brown told
the National Steeplechase Association (NSA) that riding Lord Zada
in the Colonial Cup "was like having a nice trip in the countryside
on an old motorbike or a convertible. He just did everything so
easily. All I had to do was sit up on his neck and look pretty."
"We didn't want to give up too much ground to the frontrunners,"
winning trainer Sanna Neilson said after race. "For the Breeders'
Cup, I knew he wasn't 100 percent fit, but I knew I had him 100
percent for this race. I knew if he moved up off his Breeders' Cup
performance he would run well here. He's a very talented horse and
a very careful, precision jumper," Neilson said.
|
|
|
Gus Brown and Sanna Neilson secured
their positions as this year's leading jockey and trainer
(by money won) with Lord Zada's victory in the Grade I Colonial
Cup.
|
The Colonial Cup was Lord Zada's first victory from
only three starts over fences this year and his first career victory
in a Grade I race. The 8-year-old son of Lord Avie (by Lord Gaylord)
was a good second in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Steeplechase in his
last start and had finished third in the Legacy Cup earlier this
fall. Lord Zada won two of his three starts over hurdles last year,
including a victory in the Grade II Grabel Handicap. He also won
a 1 1/2 mile listed stake race on the flat at Philadelphia Park
last year and finished fourth in the 1999 edition of the Grade III
Laurel Turf Cup, also run at a mile-and-a-half on the flat.
The recent drought conditions in South Carolina had
killed most of the turf on the Springdale course, resulting in a
race track that was more like a dirt course than a turf course.
Jockeys Cyril Murphy (on Quel Senor), JW Delozier (on It's A Giggle)
and Chip Miller (on Pinkie Swear) each pulled-up their horses before
the finish and each reported that their horses couldn't handle the
dusty, hard course. However Robert Massey, who rode All Gong to
a second-place finish, reported that the English-bred didn't mind
the conditions. "The dry ground didn't seem to bother my horse,"
Massey said. "He jumped great. We were beaten fair and square by
a better horse."
|
|
|
Cyril Murphy and Quel Senor return to
the winners' circle after capturing the $250,000 Grade I Breeders'
Cup Steeplechase, the richest race on the United State's steeplechase
calendar.
|
The Colonial Cup was the last Grade I race on this
year's steeplechase calendar, and muddied the waters for this year's
Eclipse award outcome. The NSA sanctioned seven unrestricted Grade
I steeplechase races this year, and a different horse has captured
the laurels in each event: Al Skywalker won the Colonial Cup, Electron
took the Atlanta Cup, Pompeyo (Chi) captured the Royal Chase, Rand
(NZ) won the Iroquois, It's A Giggle took the New York Turf Writers'
Cup, Quel Senor captured the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase and Lord
Zada won the Colonial Cup, which dashed the hopes of Steeplechase
Horse-of-the-Year candidates Al Skywalker and All Gong (GB), as
well as those of It's A Giggle, who was pulled-up. Quel Senor, who
was also pulled-up, could still be voted year-end honors on the
basis of his Breeders' Cup victory, which came in the race that
offered the highest steeplechase purse ($250,000) in the United
States this year. Augustin Stables' Praise The Prince (NZ), who
captured two Grade I races restricted to novices and came within
a neck of winning the Steeplechase Triple Crown, is this year's
leading steeplechase earner with a bankroll of $225,742, which is
$47,242 more than Quel Senor earned. Quel Senor defeated Praise
The Prince in the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase on October 20th, the
only time those two have met in an unrestricted Grade I race. Augustin
Stables' Pompeyo (Chi), who won the $175,000 Royal Chase and was
undefeated in two starts this year, may also get some support.
|
|
|
Augustin Stables' Praise The Prince,
shown here with jockey Gus Brown after winning the Grade I
Meadow Brook, could be voted the Eclipse Award as a result
of stablemate Lord Zada's victory in the Colonial Cup.
|
When asked to compare Lord Zada to Augustin Stables'
Pompeyo (Chi), a Grade I stakes winner that he had ridden earlier
this year before he suffered a season-ending injury, Brown replied:
"It's bittersweet to have lost Pompeyo, but Lord Zada jumped great;
he's an incredible horse. I've been lucky with the horses I've been
able to ride this year." Brown also rides Praise The Prince , and
diplomatically declined to give his opinion as to which of the three
Augustn Stables horses that he rides is the better horse. "I'll
let the voters decide who's better," Brown told the NSA. "Of the
three, I think they all deserve it, but I'd have to say Pompeyo.
He set a course record at Keeneland and he just wins every time."
Pompeyo suffered an injury after the Royal Chase and did not race
again, but his connections are planning to campaign him next year.
For Lord Zada's lifetime past performance chart courtesy
of the Daily Racing Form, click
here.
The complete order of finish for the Colonial Cup
is set forth below.
back to top
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Lord Zada |
156 |
Brown |
Sanna Neilson |
Augustin Stables |
|
2
|
All Gong (GB) |
156 |
Massey |
F. Bruce Miller |
Calvin Houghland |
|
3
|
Al Skywalker |
156 |
Foley |
Jennifer J. Majette |
Jennifer J.Majette |
|
4
|
Plumb Bob |
156 |
Edwards |
Toby Edwards |
Dale K. Thiel |
|
5
|
Walkin n' Memphis |
156 |
Bentley |
Sanna Neilson |
Irvin S. Naylor |
|
6
|
Feeling So Pretty |
150 |
M. Cooney |
F. Lee McKinney |
F. Lee McKinney |
|
7
|
Hokan |
156 |
Thornton |
Janet Elliot |
Mrs. Henry A.Gerry |
|
8
|
Cold Cat |
156 |
Thornton |
Janet Elliot |
Cherry Knoll Farm |
|
PU
|
Pinkie Swear |
156 |
C. Miller |
Jack Fisher |
Arcadia Stable |
|
PU
|
Quel Senor (Fr) |
156 |
Murphy |
Thomas H. Voss |
Coppertree Stable |
|
PU
|
It's A Giggle |
156 |
Delozier |
Jonathan Sheppard |
William L. Pape |
|
SCR
|
Golden Marvel (Fr) |
156 |
Massey |
Doug Fout |
Beverley R. Steinman |
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 4 |
Lord Zada: well placed, saved ground, assumed
command, drifted, handily |
| 2 |
All Gong (GB): unhurried early, steady advance,
rallied, second best |
| 3 |
Al Skywalker: away alertly, stalked pace,
dull effort, assumed command, bid,hun |
| 7 |
Plumb Bob: well placed, evenly, no rally,
outrun |
| 10 |
Walkin n' Memphis: well placed, contended,
tired, dropped back |
| 6 |
Feeling So Pretty: slow early, trailed, passed
tiring rivals, no threat |
| 5 |
Hokan: middle of pack, no threat, no rally,
outrun |
| 9 |
Cold Cat: away alertly, set pace, tired, dropped
back, no rally |
| 11 |
It's a Giggle: well rated, disliked track,
outrun, pulled up |
| 8 |
Quel Senor (FR): no factor, disliked track,
outrun, pulled up |
| 1 |
Pinkie Swear: no threat, disliked track, outrun,
pulled up |
| Footnotes
|
|
LORD ZADA never far back while
two wide, advanced steadily with two furlongs remaining, split
horses approaching the second last hurdle then drew clear
willingly at the last hurdle, drawing off with authority while
under a hand ride in the run-in on the flat and set a new
course record. ALL GONG (GB) was taken back in the early stages
of the race then moved steadily forward to come under strong
pressure approaching the final hedge but was unable to catch
the winner while much the best of the others. AL SKYWALKER
stalked the early leader, took command along the backside
the final time then was used up when he failed to jump clearly
and had nothing left in the final furlong. PLUMB BOB raced
willingly in mid field for the first mile, then moved closer
and came with a good effort in the final furlong. WALKIN N'
MEMPHIS was well placed then tired and dropped back. FEELING
SO PRETTY trailed early then passed tired horses. HOKAN never
menaced. COLD CAT set a quick early pace then tired and dropped
back. IT'S A GIGGLE disliked the track and was pulled up after
a dull effort. QUEL SENOR (FR) showed his dislike for the
course early and was pulled up after a dull effort. PINKIE
SWEAR was never a factor and was pulled up.
|
back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
LORD ZADA G, 1993 DP = 4-6-10-0-0
(20) DI = 3.00 CD = 0.70
|
LORD
ZADA
1993
|
LORD
AVIE*
br. 1978
16-8-4-4
$705,977 |
LORD
GAYLORD
dkb/br. 1970
6-1-2-1
$7,530 |
SIR
GAYLORD (USA)*
dkb/br. 1959 [IC]
18-10-0-4
$237,404 |
TURN-TO
(IRE)*
b. 1951 [BI] |
|
ROYAL
CHARGER (GB) |
ch. 1942 [B]* |
9-c |
| SOURCE
SUCREE (FR) |
br. 1940 * |
1-w |
SOMETHINGROYAL
(USA)**
b. 1952 |
PRINCEQUILLO
(GB) |
b. 1940 [IS]* |
1-b |
| IMPERATRICE
(USA) |
dkb/br. 1938 ** |
2-s |
MISS
GLAMOUR GAL
b. 1961
16-3-4-3
$12,975 |
AMBIORIX
(FR)*
b. 1946 |
TOURBILLON
(FR) |
b. 1928 [CP]* |
13-c |
| LAVENDULA
(FR) |
br. 1930 * |
1-w |
WILD
MUSIC
b. 1956 |
SPY
SONG (USA) |
br. 1943 [B] |
2-o |
| HOSTILITY
(USA) |
b. 1936 * |
16-a |
AVIE
b. 1963
24-1-3-4
$7,580 |
GALLANT
MAN (GB)*
b. 1954 [BI]
26-14-4-1
$510,355 |
MIGOLI
(GB)
gr. 1944 |
BOIS
ROUSSEL (FR) |
br. 1935 [S]* |
16-a |
| MAH
IRAN (GB) |
gr. 1939 |
9-c |
MAJIDEH
(GB)*
ch. 1939 |
MAHMOUD
(FR) |
gr. 1933 [IC]* |
9-c |
| QURRAT-AL-AIN
(GB) |
b. 1927 * |
5-e |
EVILONE
b. 1956
2-1-0-0
$2,405 |
TOM
FOOL (USA)*
b. 1949 [IC] |
MENOW
(USA) |
dkb/br. 1935 * |
8-g |
| GAGA
(USA) |
b. 1942 |
3-j |
HIGH
STEPPER (GB)
ch. 1948 |
HYPERION
(GB) |
ch. 1930 [BC]* |
6-e |
| SHOW
A LEG (GB) |
1942 |
1-l |
LANZADA
1985
|
ROBELLINO
(USA)
b. 1978
14-5-5-0
$135,228 (in UK & Fr) |
ROBERTO
(USA)*
b. 1969 [C]
14-7-3-0
$339,902
Article |
HAIL
TO REASON (USA)*
br. 1958 [C] |
TURN-TO
(IRE) |
|
b. 1951 [BI]* |
1-w |
| NOTHIRDCHANCE
(USA) |
b. 1948 |
4-n |
BRAMALEA
(USA)**
dkb/br. 1959 |
NASHUA
(USA) |
b. 1952 [IC] |
3-m |
| RARELEA
(USA) |
b. 1949 |
12-c |
ISOBELLINE
1971
|
PRONTO
(ARG)
b. 1958 |
TIMOR
(FR) |
ch. 1944 |
19 |
| PROSPERINA
(ARG) |
dkb/br. 1949 |
20 |
ISOBELLA
ch. 1963 |
BOLD
RULER (USA) |
dkb/br. 1954 [BI]* |
8-d |
| MONARCHY
(USA) |
b. 1957 * |
2-f |
BERING
SEA
1979
|
NORTHERN
FLING
1970
17-7-4-1
$116,525 |
NORTHERN
DANCER (CAN)*
b. 1961 [BC] |
NEARCTIC
(CAN) |
br. 1954 * |
14-c |
| NATALMA
(USA) |
b. 1957 * |
2-d |
IMPETUOUS
LADY
ch. 1965 |
HASTY
ROAD (USA) |
dkb/br. 1951 * |
3-n |
| ESCOCESA
(ARG) |
1957 |
1-l |
PORT
ROYAL (NZ)
1968
|
RIBOTLIGHT
(GB)
1959 |
RIBOT
(ITY) |
b. 1952 [CP]* |
4-l |
| HONEYLIGHT
(GB) |
b. 1953 |
16-d |
FRAFRE
(NZ)
1964 |
COMTE
DEGRASSE |
ch. 1949 |
3-d |
| LUCKY
PRINCESS (NZ) |
1951 |
11-g |
|
|
Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner
