Unfazed (NZ), one of just five foals and the only filly from the final crop of the legendary Zabeel (NZ), was off the mark this week with a 3 3/4-length victory in a 1400-metre maiden at Rotorua Jan. 18.
Bred and raced in partnership by Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan–whose Cambridge Stud was the stallion home of Zabeel until his retirement from the breeding shed in 2013–the daughter of Faze (NZ) (Stravinsky) was well beaten in her first two career trips to the post for trainers Steven Autridge and Jamie Richards, but turned things around this week as an 18-1 outsider in a field of 14. Prominent through the early exchanges, Unfazed was eased back into a midfield position while saving ground every step of the way. Traveling strongly down the side for jockey Michael McNab, the bay angled out about five wide off the home turn and quickened home impressively (video). Unfazed holds an entry for the G1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks in March, but for now, connections are pleased to have gotten the filly off to a positive start.
“We own the filly and race her on lease with others, including some of the Super 15 [rugby] referees and they'll all be absolutely over the moon,” Sir Patrick told racingnews.co.nz. “There were only five foals born in the last crop of Zabeel. I couldn't be more pleased and she looks pretty handy to me.”
Added Te Akau Racing's David Ellis, “It makes me very proud for Te Akau to have one of the last-ever Zabeel fillies and to be chosen by Sir Patrick and Cambridge Stud to train her.”
The sire of 44 Group 1 winners including Octagonal (NZ), Might and Power (NZ) and Vengeance of Rain (NZ), Zabeel died peacefully in his paddock at Cambridge in September 2015.
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