Post-Race Analysis:
Saratoga Springs, New York - August 29, 2002: Zabenz (NZ) captured
the 61st running of the $100,000 Grade I New York Turf Writers'
Cup Handicap, traveling half-way around the world from Australia
to get the job done. The 5-year-old son of Zabeel (NZ) took command
of the race leaving the backstretch the last time and romped top
a 7 1/ length victory. Double Leaf (GB) finished second 5 1/4 lengths
in front of 1998 steeplechase champion Flat Top. The time for the
2 3/8ths miles run over a soft course that had been deluged with
an all-day rain was 4:28.04, well off the track record of 4:12.04
established by Hokan in 1998 and tied by It's A Giggle over a rock-hard
course last year.
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Zabenz (NZ), shown here with jockey Craig
Thornton at Saratoga earlier this week, traveled half way
around the world to capture the Grade I New York Turf Writers'
Cup Handicap.
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Recently acquired by Englishman Michael Watt, Zabenz was converted
to jumps this June. He took immediately top his new calling, winning
three hurdle races in 19 days in Australia including a $100,000
novice stakes. Zabenz was shipped to the United States earlier this
month, arriving in Saratoga on August 7th. He had a race over the
Saratoga course last week when he finished third beaten 10 lengths
in a $50,000 novice allowance race after being shuffled back on
to second-last on both of the final two turns in the race. He added
blinkers for the Turf Writers', and got the same soft ground that
he had become accustomed to while racing in Australia.
"The jockey made the suggestion about the blinkers because
the horse didn't travel well enough last week," said winning
trainer Robert Smerdon. "He needed something to put him on
the bridle a little bit more; he was too casual last week."
Smerdon noted that Zabenz had raced with blinkers on the flat, but
they took the blinkers off him after his first hurdle race because
they made him too keen.
Winning jockey Craig Thornton, who has ridden regularly in America
for the past 12 years, agreed with Smerdon's assessment: "We
were disappointed in him last week, but the blinkers obviously got
him back on his game," said Thornton after the race. "The
soft going helped him as well. Last time out he was fiddling around.
Today he was on his game. He's a serious race horse."
When asked to compare steeplechase racing in the United States
to jump racing Down Under, Smerdon commented: "I think Australia
and the America are very comparable in terms of the quality of jump
racing. It's a shame because jumping doesn't get the recognition
here or back home that it gets in England and Ireland."
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Legendary New Zealand-based sire Sir
Tristram (Ire) sired 45 Group I winners including Zabenz'
sire Zabeel (NZ).
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Zabenz is by the exceptional stallion Zabeel (NZ), who has sired
the winners of more than 50 stakes races. Zabeel has been the champion
sire in New Zealand in each of the past five years and has finished
either first or second on Australia's leading sire list in each
of the past six years. Trained by the renown Colin Hayes, Zabeel
won the Australian Guineas (Group 1) as well as three Group 2 stakes
races: the Moonee Valley Stakes, the Alister Clark Stakes and the
Craiglee Stakes. He was retired with a record of 7 victories and
5 placings from 19 starts. Zabeel is a son of the legendary Sir
Tristram out of the unraced Nureyev mare Lady Giselle. Lady Giselle
is a daughter of Valderna, a Group winning half-sister to the outstanding
race mare Detroit, who won Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix
de l’Arc de Triomphe, as a three-year-old. Detroit also has the
distinction of producing Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Carnegie
(by Sadler’s Wells).
Zabenz' grand-sire Sir Tristram (Ire) had an outstanding career
at stud, siring a remarkable 45 Group I winners, more than Mr. Prospector
and Northern Dancer and second only to Sadler's Wells. Sir Tristram
won the Dewar Stallion Awards, given each season to the New Zealand-based
sire with the greatest progeny earnings throughout New Zealand and
Australia, a record nine times. He was the champion Australian sire
six times. Alongside every measure used to define excellence, Sir
Tristram set extraordinary new figures. In addition to his 45 Group
I winners, Sir Tristram sired a total of 127 Group and Listed stakes
winners and more than 220 black type performers, almost one quarter
of all his runners.
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It's A Giggle, shown here with jockey
Gus Brown, failed to defend his Turf Writers' title when he
couldn't handle the soft going at Saratoga.
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William L. Pape's It's A Giggle, a winner of his last four starts
at Saratoga including last year's edition of the Grade I New York
Turf Writers Cup Handicap, failed as the even-money favorite in
his attempt to defend his Turf Writer's title. The 8-year-old son
of leading steeplechase sire Northern Baby (by Northern Dancer)
was pulled up by jockey Gus Brown after the eighth fence.. He is
conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
"As soon as they dropped the flag we were in trouble,"
said Sheppard. "The soft course is exactly what we were afraid
of, but it's hard to scratch when you have the favorite in a $100,000
race. Unfortunately, it was like It's A Giggle was swimming out
there. He couldn't get a hold of it. He's a long-striding horse,
and he was never even on the bit. He came up to the race great;
we just got beat by the weather. Still, you can't take anything
away from the winner. That was a great performance."
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Hall of Fame conditioner Jonathan
Sheppard has won 11of the last 23 runnings of the New York
Turf Writers' Cup handicap but had to settle for second place
this year.
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It's A Giggle carried high weight of 160 pounds in the Turf Writers',
and as a result conceded 14 pounds to the winner, and 20 pounds
to the second-place horse. He had won three races at Saratoga last
year, including the New York Turf Writer's Cup, and won the Grade
II A.P. Smithwick stakes in his only start at the Spa this year.
He was unbeaten in three starts this year coming into the Turf Writers',
had captured the Grade I Royal Chase at Keeneland in April, and
lead all United States-based jumpers with earnings of $172,620 this
year.
Sheppard gained some level of satisfaction from the Turf Writers'
by tightening the girth on second place finisher Double Leaf (GB).
Owned by Timber bay Farm, the 9-year-old son of Sadler's Wells (by
Northern Dancer) raced at the back of the pack early, came widest
of all around the final turn and passed Flat Top on the run-in to
give jockey Michael Traurig his fifth second place finish from five
rides this summer at Saratoga.
Mrs. Henry A. Gerry's Flat Top was rated early, moved to within
a half-length of Zabenz around the final turn, ranged along side
the winner coming to the last fence, but faded to third on the run-in.
The 9-year-old son of Alleged (by Hoist The Flag) was the steeplechase
Eclipse Award winner in 1998, but has been unable to recapture his
form from that year when he won three of five starts over fences.
Nevertheless, Flat Top has now won seven of 15 starts over hurdles
and has racked up over $396,000 in jump earnings for trainer Janet
Elliot.
Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.'s Shamrock Isle raced in mid-pack, jumped
poorly at the last fence causing him to stumble upon landing, and
finished fourth.
Contrarian Stables' Tres Touche moved to within a
length of Zabenz down the backstretch the last time but could not
sustain the pace when the others quickened and failed to hit the
board for the first time since last November.
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Tres Touche (right) and Anofferucantrefuse,
shown here at the second fence of the Grade II Smithwick on
August 8th, finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the
Turf Writers' Cup.
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Fox Ridge Farm's Anofferucantrefuse raced near the
back of the pack and was never a factor. The 5-year-old son of Red
Ransom (by Roberto) won the Grade I Aitcheson at Pimlico and finished
second to Sharp Face in the Grade I Meadow Brook at Belmont Park
this spring, and finished fourth behind It's A Giggle, Tres Touche
and Indispensable in the Smithwick on August 8th, his first stakes
start against open company. Anofferucantrefuse is trained by two-time
leading steeplechase conditioner Tom Voss, who leads the steeplechase
trainer standings again this year, and was ridden by Roger Horgan.
Jennifer Majette's Al Skywalker slipped and fell in
the paddock before the race. The 9-year-old son of Skywalker (by
Relaunch) never got comfortable in the race, fencing poorly on the
front end before tiring badly and leaving the course before the
9th fence.
Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.'s Indispensable was scratched.
With less than three months left in the 2002 steeplechase season
the battle for Elipse award honors is wide open. The New York Turf
Writers' Cup was the fourth unrestricted Grade I race sanctioned
by the National Steeplechase Association this year, and a different
horse has captured the laurels in each event: Canta Ke Brave won
the Colonial Cup, It's A Giggle captured the Royal Chase and All
Gong (GB) won the Iroquois.
The complete order of finish for the Grade I New York Turf Writers'
Cup is set forth below.
Click Here for Daily Racing Form past performance
charts for the New York Turf Writers' Cup.
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form.
To play the Steeplestakes.com Spring 2002 Handicapping Contest
click here.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Zabenz (NZ) |
146 |
Thornton |
Robert Smearden |
Michael Watt |
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2
|
Double Leaf (GB) |
140 |
Traurig |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Timber Bay Farm |
|
3
|
Flat Top |
150 |
Massey |
Janet Elliot |
Mrs. Henry A Gerry |
|
4
|
Shamrock Isle |
144 |
Kingsley |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. F. E. Dixon, Jr. |
|
5
|
Tres Touche |
152 |
Bentley |
Ricky Hendricks |
Contrarian Stables |
|
6
|
Anofferucantrefuse |
146 |
Horgan |
Thomas H. Voss |
Fox Ridge Farm |
|
PU
|
It's A Giggle |
160 |
Brown |
Jonathan Sheppard |
William L. Pape |
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PU
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Al Skywalker |
156 |
Foley |
Jennifer Majette |
Jennifer Majette |
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SCR
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Indispensable |
146 |
Murphy |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. F. E. Dixon, Jr. |
| Winner: |
Zabenz (NZ) - Bay Gelding, November 24, 1997
Bred by Glenmorgan Farm Ltd in NZ |
| Pedigree: |
Zabeel (NZ) - In the Country , by In the Purple
(FR) |
| Scratched Horses: |
Indispensable |
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
Total WPS
Pool: $279,271 |
| 2 |
Zabenz (NZ) |
10.80 |
6.10 |
4.80 |
|
| 4 |
Double Leaf (GB) |
|
14.80 |
8.40 |
|
| 3 |
Flat Top |
|
|
7.30 |
|
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Pick 3 |
2-1-2 |
169.00 |
98,853 |
|
| $2 Pick 4 |
10-2-1-2 |
1,123.00 |
180,456 |
|
| $2 Daily Double |
1-2 |
47.20 |
225,404 |
|
| $2 Exacta |
2-4 |
149.00 |
279,943 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
2-4-3 |
1,313.00 |
284,498 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 2 |
Zabenz (NZ): prominent from outset, clear
after ninth, strong run, ridden out |
| 4 |
Double Leaf (GB): reserved early, wide run
final turn, rallied into place |
| 3 |
Flat Top: reserved between rivals, tried winner
ninth fence, faded |
| 1 |
Shamrock Isle: inside trip, stumbled over
last, no rally |
| 5 |
Tres Touche: with pace, tired |
| 7 |
Anofferucantrefuse: tired |
| 6 |
It's a Giggle: left course before 9 |
| 8 |
Al Skywalker: made pace, tired badly, left
course before 9 |
| Footnotes
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ZABENZ (NZ) was prominent from
the outset, drew clear over the second last fence, opened
up with a strong run into the final fence and remained well
clear under a hand ride. DOUBLE LEAF (GB) was reserved early,
advanced outside on the final turn, was no real threat to
the winner and rallied to earn the place award. FLAT TOP was
reserved between rivals, took a run at the winner nearing
the ninth fence, was no match for that rival and faded. SHAMROCK
ISLE raced inside, stumbled over the last fence and had no
rally. TRES TOUCHE raced with the pace and tired. ANOFFERUCANTREFUSE
tired. IT'S A GIGGLE left the course before the ninth jump.
AL SKYWALKER made the pace, tired badly and left the course
before the ninth jump.
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back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
ZABENZ (NZ) G, 1997 DP = 1-3-8-6-2
(20) DI = 0.67 CD = -0.25
Career Earnings: $176,277 as of Aug. 29, 2002
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Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Previous Winners:
| Year |
Winner (Age) |
Jockey |
lbs
|
Second (Age) |
lbs. |
Third (Age) |
lbs. |
| 1970 |
El Martirio (6) |
Plain |
138 |
Wustenchef (5) |
151 |
Shadow Brook (6) |
155 |
| 1971 |
Soothsayer (4) |
Fishback |
153 |
Predominio (7) |
141 |
Shadow Brook (6) |
162 |
| 1975 |
Life's Illusion (4) |
Quanbeck |
145 |
Soothsayer (5) |
161 |
Artic Joe (8) |
148 |
| 1976 |
Happy Intellectual (10) |
Elser |
152 |
Life's Ilusion (5) |
160 |
Strait and True (6) |
155 |
| 1977 |
Happy Intellectual (11) |
Aitcheson |
152 |
Naval Person(5) |
143 |
Cassamayor(7) |
150 |
| 1978 |
Happy Intellectual (12) |
Martin |
152 |
Popular Hero (5) |
148 |
Leaping Frog (5) |
157 |
| 1979 |
Leaping Frog (6) |
Christinson |
159 |
Tan Jay (7) |
150 |
Canadian Regent (5) |
143 |
| 1980 |
Zaccio (4) |
McWade |
157 |
Running Comment (6) |
142 |
Leaping Frog (7) |
152 |
| 1981 |
Running Comment (7) |
McWade |
143 |
Codicioso (6) |
144 |
Red Invader (8) |
142 |
| 1982 |
Zaccio (6) |
Hendriks |
161 |
Give a Whirl (5) |
146 |
Running Comment (8) |
145 |
| 1983 |
Double Reefed (7) |
Cushman |
161 |
Sugar Bee (5) |
135 |
Census (5) |
148 |
| 1984 |
Flatterer (5) |
Fishback |
164 |
Census (6) |
155 |
Double Reefed (8) |
158 |
| 1986 |
Le Sauteur (7) |
Houghton |
157 |
Twas Ever Thus (7) |
15o |
Eremite (6) |
146 |
| 1987 |
Chief Of The Clan (4) |
Lawrence |
148 |
Gateshead (8) |
154 |
Chammsky (8) |
152 |
| 1988 |
Rio Claro (5) |
Morris |
152 |
Steve Canyon (8) |
162 |
Jive With Five (4) |
146 |
| 1989 |
Double Bill (6) |
Guessford |
142 |
Uptown Swell (7) |
152 |
Polar Pleasure (7) |
149 |
| 1990 |
Double Bill (7) |
Guessford |
146 |
French Hill (5) |
154 |
Peer Prince (5) |
134 |
| 1991 |
Yaw (9) |
Smart |
145 |
Moonstruck (8) |
148 |
Double Bill (8) |
149 |
| 1992 |
Yaw (10) |
Smart |
146 |
Three Bells For Me (5) |
140 |
Make Azilion (8) |
142 |
| 1993 |
Warm Spell (5) |
Lawrence |
161 |
Castlwworth (7) |
142 |
Darby Sky (6) |
145 |
| 1994 |
Mistico (8) |
Thornton |
168 |
Cheering News (7) |
142 |
Lonesome Glory (6) |
168 |
| 1995 |
Lonesome Glory (7) |
B.Miller |
166 |
Mistico (9) |
160 |
Rowdy Irishman (6) |
142 |
| 1996 |
Petroski (6) |
O'Brien |
160 |
T.V. Gold (6) |
140 |
Prime Legacy (7) |
138 |
| 1997 |
Bisbalense (8) |
Kingsley |
142 |
Confidente (8) |
140 |
Lonesome Glory (9) |
156 |
| 1998 |
Hokan (5) |
Clancy |
142 |
Romantic (6) |
143 |
Sundin (7) |
142 |
| 1999 |
Campanile (5) |
B. Miller |
148 |
Willstown |
138 |
Romantic (7) |
152 |
| 2000 |
Ninepins (13) |
Kingsley |
150 |
Campanile (6) |
160 |
Allgrit |
138 |
| 2001 |
It's A Giggle |
B. Miller |
142 |
Canta Ke Brave |
152 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) |
160 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
