Breeding Vale - Zabeel
Tara Madgwick - 26 Sep 2015
A remarkable era in New Zealand thoroughbred breeding history has ended with the death of the champion stallion Zabeel.
Zabeel. Photo : Cambridge Stud
The son of another great sire, Sir Tristram (IRE), Zabeel (1986 - 2015) passed away peacefully overnight in the paddock he has occupied at Cambridge Stud since 1991.
An emotional Sir Patrick Hogan announced Zabeel’s passing and made the following statement.
"Cambridge Stud is sad to report that during the night Zabeel passed away peacefully in his paddock,” Hogan said. "The sire already of 44 Group I champions, Zabeel was 29 years old.
"He was a sire who excelled at the very highest level and was able to carry on where his own great sire Sir Tristram had left off.
"Zabeel contributed to the thoroughbred industry and excelled above all expectations and having enjoyed his retirement for the past few years he will be sadly missed by all here at Cambridge Stud.
"He will be buried alongside his sire Sir Tristram in the very same tradition, with his tail facing the sunrise and his head facing the sunset.
"Zabeel gave so many people though his progeny the greatest thrill of winning so many races at the highest level. He surpassed all stallions that have come before him, past and present in New Zealand. Four Cox Plates and three Melbourne Cups – what more can you say?
"So a big thank you from us all and God bless, rest in peace.”
The Champion Australian Sire in 1997/1998 and 1998/1999, Zabeel won the 1990 Group I Australian Guineas and sired 156 stakes-winners with global earnings topping $181 million.
His long list of Group I winners includes household names such as Octagonal, Might and Power, Efficient, Maldivian, Sky Heights and Jezabeel.
His grandson Lonhro currently leads the Australian General Sires list by earnings and his success has ensured the Zabeel sireline will carry forward for generations to come.
Zabeel has the chance to add another Group I winner to his tally later today when the Hawkes Racing-trained Leebaz lines up in the Group I Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.
