Zabeel Classic looming for Le Sablier

[Wandering Eyes]

A tilt at the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m) could be on the cards for Le Sablier (NZ) (Tavistock) after her runner-up effort behind Sinarahma in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

“She went super, I am really proud of her. She just ran into a good one in Sinarahma,” said trainer Karen Fursdon, who co-bred and part-owns the mare.

“I think I have given up the idea that, like most of the members of the family, she is a stayer.

“We may head to the Zabeel Classic, but we will just see what happens. She has come through the race extremely well, so we are pretty happy with her.”

The eight-year-old daughter of Tavistock has been in career best form this preparation, securing black-type with placings in the Listed Staphanos Classic (1950m) and Cal Isuzu Stakes, and Fursdon is hoping to add further black-type to her record before she heads to the broodmare paddock.

“We bred Phillipa Glass (dam) and have had the family for such a long time. To have kept her going and racing in career best form, we are very proud of her,” Fursdon said.

“We missed our opportunity this year (for the breeding season), things just didn’t fall into place. I was in conversation with a couple of studs that were quite interested, but she was racing well.

“She didn’t have any black-type, but now she has black-type, it might make a difference being a Tavistock mare (when it comes to selling her).

“Getting her to Australia might be a good option as she could still be kept in work to run on the Gold Coast.”

Another stable runner that could be heading to Pukekohe on Boxing Day is Orleans Belle (NZ) (Power), who ran sixth in her 1300m race at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m) remains an option, however, Kursdon is contemplating keeping her back in trip.

“With Orleans Belle, the jockey (Masa Hashizume) couldn’t see anything at all with that rain,” Fursdon said.

“During the race it was quite tough and to be brave enough to run sixth I thought was a very good effort after being nearly last on the corner.

“I don’t know whether we will go straight towards the Stella Artois or keep her back in distance a little bit.”

Meanwhile, stablemate Primo Stella will head to Te Rapa on New Year’s Day for the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) after her win over 2200m at Hastings last week. “Primo Stella won very well at Hastings and she will go onto the Dunstan,” Fursdon said.

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