Handy Harry
22-01-2003, 07:45
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/special/ngjg2003/image/title_00.jpg
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/special/ngjg2003/image/p03_3.jpg
Nakayama Grand Jump
Saturday, April 19, 2003
4,250 meters (about 2-21/32 miles), turf
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/special/ngjg2003/image/1.jpg
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/special/ngjg2003/image/p03_2.jpg
( a ) Nakayama Grand Jump Starting Point
( b ) Finish
( c ) Grandstand
( d ) Paddock (Parade Ring)
( e ) Stables
( f ) Turf Course
( g ) Dirt Course
( h ) Steeplechase Course
( i ) Saddling Enclosure
( j ) Administration Office
Zabenz heading for Japan’s Nakayama Grand Jump.
American trained jumper Zabenz, previously trained by Robert Smerdon, and now prepared by Jonathon Sheppard, has been nominated for the Japan Nakayama Grand Jump (4250m).
The gruelling Group One race is run over 4250m and there are 12 jumps.
Last year it was won by the John Wheeler trained St. Steven, riden by Craig Thornton.
St. Steven has again been nominated along with Grand National Hurdle winner, Nautilism, Specular, Preludes, Risky Venture, Striding Edge, Zabuan, Golden Flame, Real Tonic, Eric The Bee, Mi Senor and Silver Archer.
There will be three Australasian horses invited over in total for the race on April 19, and the Japan Racing Club will announce these runners by the end of the month.
By: Jo Adams - Wednesday, 22 January 2003
http://www.cyberhorse.com.au/quentin/racing/fle290602/r4zabenz4.jpg
Flashback...29/6/02 Flemington
Zabenz established himself as a potential jumping superstar after he scored a sizzling win in this afternoon's Grand National Hurdle at Flemington.
After racing near midfield for much of the race, the son of Zabeel strode up to the leaders rounding the turn and then cleared away for a comprehensive win.
Winning trainer Robert Smerdon is already eyeing races like the Nakayama Grand Jump, the world's richest jumping race in Japan, which was won by St. Steven earlier this year.
But before that the gelding may not even remain in the stable, with plenty of interest expected from overseas connections.
"The owner (Italian based Carlo Da Rosa) would consider selling him for the right price," Smerdon said. "You'd have to think he'd be worth at least $250,000 after today."
Zabenz, who is unbeaten from three runs over the jumps, would not have even been in today's race if he didn't gain a run when he was third emergency in his debut jumps race recently.
"If he had not got a start in that trial hurdle we would not be here winning today," Smerdon said.
Despite it being a good option in the eyes of Smerdon, it is almost certain Zabuan will not progress to the upcoming Hiskens Steeplechase.
"If he was my horse I'd probably run him in the Hiskens," Smerdon said. "But it was arranged before the race no matter what happened he would head for a spell."
Connections will then aim the budding jumping star at the Cup Day Hurdle at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day in November.
Zabenz in the USA
Flashback
By TIM WILKIN, Staff writer
First published: Friday, August 30, 2002
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- The horse to beat in the 61st running of the Grade I, $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase Thursday was It's A Giggle.
The defending champ had already won a race over the fences at Saratoga Race Course during the meet and was a deserving 6-5 favorite. The only thing that could beat the 8-year-old gelding was if something weird happened.
That it did and it helped 4-1 shot Zabenz roll home to a 7 1/4-length win in the race over 2 /8 miles.
It's A Giggle did not like the soft turf course, which was being pelted with an all-day rain. It's A Giggle and jockey Gus Brown were never in the race and left the course before the ninth fence.
"As soon as the man said, 'Go!', we were in trouble," said trainer Jonathan Sheppard. "It (the soft course condition) was exactly what we were afraid of."
Although the impending conditions were not what his horse liked, Sheppard didn't have much choice. He wanted to run.
"It's a little bit hard to scratch when you have the favorite in a $100,000 race," he said. "He was like swimming. He couldn't get a hold of it. He's a long-striding horse, and he was never even on the bit. He came up to the race great, we just got beat by the weather. You can't take anything away from the winner. That was a great performance."
Zabenz, a New Zealand-bred, made his first start in the U.S. over the jumps here on Aug. 22 and finished third. After that race, jockey Craig Thornton suggested to trainer Robert Smerdon that he put blinkers on the 5-year-old.
"He needed something to put him on the bridle a little more," Smerdon said., "He was too casual last week."
Zabenz was never far off the lead, and carried 146 pounds, 14 less than It's A Giggle. After It's A Giggle left the course, Zabenz was going to have no competition. Thornton guided him cleanly through the stretch to win under a hand ride in a time of 4:28.
Double Leaf, the uncoupled, 18-1 part of Sheppard's entry, was second with Flat Top, Shamrock Isle, Tres Touche and Anofferucantrefuse completing the order. In addition to It's A Giggle, early pace setter Al Skywalker also left the course.
Zabenz was never far off the lead, enjoying a 14-pound break in the weights from 160-pound highweight It's a Giggle. He responded to jockey Craig Thornton through the lane to win in 4:28 under a hand ride. And it was Thornton, winning his second New York Turf Writers Cup, who had an important role in the victory.
"The jockey made the suggestion about he blinkers because the horse didn't travel well enough last week," said winning trainer Robert Smerdon after Zabenz snapped a three-race win streak with a distant third here on August 22nd. "He needed something to put him on the bridle a little more; he was too casual last week.
"When you are down at the bottom of the handicaps, I thought we would be competitive, purely on the weights. I was happy to see it rain, but when it kept raining, we got into an area of unknown. This will be the worse ground he's ever experienced. "
Thornton was never worried. "Last time, he was fiddling around," Thornton said. "Today, he was on his game. The blinkers definitely helped. He's a serious horse. We were disappointed with him last week, but the blinkers obviously got him back on his game. The ground didn't bother him at all."
Zabenz paid $10.80 to win, $6.10 to place and $4.80 to show.
4/7/02
Saturday's runaway Grand National Hurdle winner Zabenz has been sold and will continue racing in Europe.
Unbeaten from three jumping runs throughout Melbourne, Zabenz, a son of the mighty New Zealand based Zabeel, has been sold for a reported $250,000.
His Australian trainer Robert Smerdon hinted of a sale to Europe immediately after the galloper had hurdled his way to an incredible win in the National on Saturday.
Smerdon said despite having only his third run over the jumps he was "clearly the best jumper" he had trained.
"From the first time we tested him over some jumps he just flew them," Smerdon said. "He's a natural."
Zabenz, who was a $180,000 yearling purchase, is understood to have entered quarantine and he could be in Europe before the end of the month.
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/special/ngjg2003/image/p03_5.jpg
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/special/ngjg2003/image/p03_3.jpg
Nakayama Grand Jump
Saturday, April 19, 2003
4,250 meters (about 2-21/32 miles), turf
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/special/ngjg2003/image/1.jpg
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/special/ngjg2003/image/p03_2.jpg
( a ) Nakayama Grand Jump Starting Point
( b ) Finish
( c ) Grandstand
( d ) Paddock (Parade Ring)
( e ) Stables
( f ) Turf Course
( g ) Dirt Course
( h ) Steeplechase Course
( i ) Saddling Enclosure
( j ) Administration Office
Zabenz heading for Japan’s Nakayama Grand Jump.
American trained jumper Zabenz, previously trained by Robert Smerdon, and now prepared by Jonathon Sheppard, has been nominated for the Japan Nakayama Grand Jump (4250m).
The gruelling Group One race is run over 4250m and there are 12 jumps.
Last year it was won by the John Wheeler trained St. Steven, riden by Craig Thornton.
St. Steven has again been nominated along with Grand National Hurdle winner, Nautilism, Specular, Preludes, Risky Venture, Striding Edge, Zabuan, Golden Flame, Real Tonic, Eric The Bee, Mi Senor and Silver Archer.
There will be three Australasian horses invited over in total for the race on April 19, and the Japan Racing Club will announce these runners by the end of the month.
By: Jo Adams - Wednesday, 22 January 2003
http://www.cyberhorse.com.au/quentin/racing/fle290602/r4zabenz4.jpg
Flashback...29/6/02 Flemington
Zabenz established himself as a potential jumping superstar after he scored a sizzling win in this afternoon's Grand National Hurdle at Flemington.
After racing near midfield for much of the race, the son of Zabeel strode up to the leaders rounding the turn and then cleared away for a comprehensive win.
Winning trainer Robert Smerdon is already eyeing races like the Nakayama Grand Jump, the world's richest jumping race in Japan, which was won by St. Steven earlier this year.
But before that the gelding may not even remain in the stable, with plenty of interest expected from overseas connections.
"The owner (Italian based Carlo Da Rosa) would consider selling him for the right price," Smerdon said. "You'd have to think he'd be worth at least $250,000 after today."
Zabenz, who is unbeaten from three runs over the jumps, would not have even been in today's race if he didn't gain a run when he was third emergency in his debut jumps race recently.
"If he had not got a start in that trial hurdle we would not be here winning today," Smerdon said.
Despite it being a good option in the eyes of Smerdon, it is almost certain Zabuan will not progress to the upcoming Hiskens Steeplechase.
"If he was my horse I'd probably run him in the Hiskens," Smerdon said. "But it was arranged before the race no matter what happened he would head for a spell."
Connections will then aim the budding jumping star at the Cup Day Hurdle at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day in November.
Zabenz in the USA
Flashback
By TIM WILKIN, Staff writer
First published: Friday, August 30, 2002
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- The horse to beat in the 61st running of the Grade I, $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase Thursday was It's A Giggle.
The defending champ had already won a race over the fences at Saratoga Race Course during the meet and was a deserving 6-5 favorite. The only thing that could beat the 8-year-old gelding was if something weird happened.
That it did and it helped 4-1 shot Zabenz roll home to a 7 1/4-length win in the race over 2 /8 miles.
It's A Giggle did not like the soft turf course, which was being pelted with an all-day rain. It's A Giggle and jockey Gus Brown were never in the race and left the course before the ninth fence.
"As soon as the man said, 'Go!', we were in trouble," said trainer Jonathan Sheppard. "It (the soft course condition) was exactly what we were afraid of."
Although the impending conditions were not what his horse liked, Sheppard didn't have much choice. He wanted to run.
"It's a little bit hard to scratch when you have the favorite in a $100,000 race," he said. "He was like swimming. He couldn't get a hold of it. He's a long-striding horse, and he was never even on the bit. He came up to the race great, we just got beat by the weather. You can't take anything away from the winner. That was a great performance."
Zabenz, a New Zealand-bred, made his first start in the U.S. over the jumps here on Aug. 22 and finished third. After that race, jockey Craig Thornton suggested to trainer Robert Smerdon that he put blinkers on the 5-year-old.
"He needed something to put him on the bridle a little more," Smerdon said., "He was too casual last week."
Zabenz was never far off the lead, and carried 146 pounds, 14 less than It's A Giggle. After It's A Giggle left the course, Zabenz was going to have no competition. Thornton guided him cleanly through the stretch to win under a hand ride in a time of 4:28.
Double Leaf, the uncoupled, 18-1 part of Sheppard's entry, was second with Flat Top, Shamrock Isle, Tres Touche and Anofferucantrefuse completing the order. In addition to It's A Giggle, early pace setter Al Skywalker also left the course.
Zabenz was never far off the lead, enjoying a 14-pound break in the weights from 160-pound highweight It's a Giggle. He responded to jockey Craig Thornton through the lane to win in 4:28 under a hand ride. And it was Thornton, winning his second New York Turf Writers Cup, who had an important role in the victory.
"The jockey made the suggestion about he blinkers because the horse didn't travel well enough last week," said winning trainer Robert Smerdon after Zabenz snapped a three-race win streak with a distant third here on August 22nd. "He needed something to put him on the bridle a little more; he was too casual last week.
"When you are down at the bottom of the handicaps, I thought we would be competitive, purely on the weights. I was happy to see it rain, but when it kept raining, we got into an area of unknown. This will be the worse ground he's ever experienced. "
Thornton was never worried. "Last time, he was fiddling around," Thornton said. "Today, he was on his game. The blinkers definitely helped. He's a serious horse. We were disappointed with him last week, but the blinkers obviously got him back on his game. The ground didn't bother him at all."
Zabenz paid $10.80 to win, $6.10 to place and $4.80 to show.
4/7/02
Saturday's runaway Grand National Hurdle winner Zabenz has been sold and will continue racing in Europe.
Unbeaten from three jumping runs throughout Melbourne, Zabenz, a son of the mighty New Zealand based Zabeel, has been sold for a reported $250,000.
His Australian trainer Robert Smerdon hinted of a sale to Europe immediately after the galloper had hurdled his way to an incredible win in the National on Saturday.
Smerdon said despite having only his third run over the jumps he was "clearly the best jumper" he had trained.
"From the first time we tested him over some jumps he just flew them," Smerdon said. "He's a natural."
Zabenz, who was a $180,000 yearling purchase, is understood to have entered quarantine and he could be in Europe before the end of the month.
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/special/ngjg2003/image/p03_5.jpg