The prowess of the great Zabeel received an unnecessary but telling boost with the win of his grandson Usainity in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Usainity is a son of Zabeel’s previously little-known son Zed, a stallion so disregarded he stood for $500 and served Clydesdale mares.
Usainity - Photo by Steve Hart
“You just can’t beat Zabeel,” said trainer Murray Baker.
“You can put him to the gate post and you’d still get a winner.”
Zed, who was trained by Baker and won a single race from his only four starts, stood in New Zealand’s South Island for his first couple of seasons.
Usainity is a member of his oldest crop and, along with the good New Zealand winner Survived, he has rescued his sire from obscurity.
“They’ve got him back from the South Island and I believe he’s standing at Grange William Stud now,” Baker said.
Usainity ($9) scored by a head from Honorius ($17) with Kingdoms ($12) a length further back in third.
Baker, who has already won the Australian Derby with star colt It’s A Dundeel, will now attempt to add the Queensland Derby to his classic list with Usainity.
While the placegetter showed good staying potential, the odds-on favourite Toydini did not.
After cruising along at the back of the field to the 500m, Toydini ranged up in the straight, but his run ended well short of the line.
