Zanjabeel Prevails in Iroquois

[Wandering Eyes]

The GI Calvin Houghland Iroquois pitted youth against experience. On a sweltering Saturday afternoon in Nashville, youth won out. Zanjabeel (GB) (Aussie Rules) marked himself as a star of today and tomorrow when the 5-year-old swept past perennial runner-up Modem (GB) (Motivator {GB}) and pulled away steadily to the wire to win by five lengths. Jamarjo (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) finished third, and Mr. Hot Stuff (Tiznow) was fourth.

The Iroquois, the richest race on the National Steeplechase Association’s spring schedule, attracted the top four finishers in last fall’s GI Grand National, in which Mr. Hot Stuff nosed out Modem, who was a nose ahead of All the Way Jose (Senor Swinger). Jamarjo was fourth.

Zanjabeel also had run on the Grand National card, and he easily won the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle for novices-jump racing’s newcomers-for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott. A Maryland partnership of George Mahoney Jr.’s Rosbrian Farm and Wendy and Ben Griswold bought Zanjabeel, then four, and turned him over to Ricky Hendriks, who won another novice stakes with him two weeks later.

Hendriks did not hesitate to send Zanjabeel into top company this year, and he registered two second-place finishes, in the

GI Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup and the GII Temple Gwathmey earlier in the spring.

The Iroquois was time for him to graduate into top company if he could handle three miles, the longest hurdle stakes on the schedule. He handled it with aplomb and was where jockey Ross Geraghty needed him to be at every stage of the Iroquois.

After All the Way Jose fell on the second run down the backstretch, Modem inherited the lead and appeared to be ready to break his run of four second-place finishes in Grade I races coming into the Iroquois.

But Zanjabeel had other ideas. He and Geraghty crept closer to the lead and challenged two fences from home. Both jumped the final fences well, but Zanjabeel showed off his staying power when he quickly seized the lead after the last and drew away to the wire. Now a Grade I winner over fences, Zanjabeel ran the Iroquois’ three miles in 5:36.40 on firm turf.

 

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