Monday 27 March 2023
SEA THE STARS enjoyed another new Group winner in Australia over the weekend when Zeyrek powered home in the Gr.3 Neville Sellwood Stakes at Rosehill.
The six-year-old, already a Listed winner, is likely to be targeted at the $5 million Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes next month by the Hawkes Racing training team. Michael Hawkes told ANZ Bloodstock News: "Who knows? He might run in the Queen Elizabeth. We've tried to stretch him out over a bit of ground, but he's just got such a good turn of foot. He's very explosive, especially over 2000 [metres] at Randwick, I think he's going to be something special. I know it's going to be a tough race but it's there and we'll decide as we get closer, but it's pretty exciting to have a horse of this quality. He has really turned the corner this bloke and he's got a lot in store for him."
Zeyrek is the second new Group winner down under for his sire this year, following the front-running victory of Cepheus in the Gr.2 Ajax Stakes on 11th March for OTI Racing. The grandson of Zarkava was bred by the Aga Khan Studs and sold privately in 2021.
Zeyrek’s relation ZARAK meanwhile also had a successful Saturday on the world stage, with his son Zagrey finishing a game third behind Japanese superstar Equinox and Classic winner Westover in the Gr.1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan. Zagrey is now the fourth Group 1 performer to come from ZARAK’s first crop, conceived at a fee of €12,000.
