4 Win Saturday - Mehzebeen Black Type Marvellous

In terrific form during the Spring, Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay, by Zabeel) recorded a brilliant victory in the $120,000 Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawkes Bay Cup 2200m on Saturday at Trentham.

Runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks 2400m on the course as a three-year-old, Mehzebeen won both the Listed Metropolitan Trophy 2600m and Group 3 New Zealand Cup 3200m during Cup Week in November at Riccarton. She brought top three credentials to the contest after a very good performance from the outside gate for a close third in the New Zealand St Leger over 2600m on 22 March, also at Trentham.

Drawn wide again (11), Mehzebeen was ridden assertively by apprentice Lily Sutherland to cross and lead. She handed up to trail when tackled in the back straight and after being stymied for room, she switched back to the rail inside the 300m and rattled home to win well.

A quality staying mare, it was the sixth win by Mehzebeen and took her prizemoney earnings over $550,000.

On Soft5 footing, she ran 2200 metres in good time (2:16.7) and drifted in betting from an earlier $5.00 fixed odds quote to pay $11.60 & $3.30 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a great win and a lovely ride of Lily’s,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“It’s great to see Lily ride a stakes' winner for the team and even though still an apprentice, she’s really proving herself in the jockey ranks.

“Things didn’t right for Mehzebeen in Melbourne, but she’s come home, regrouped quickly, and added to her pedigree again today with another top stakes' win.  We’ll see how she pulls up, but the Rotorua Cup is a possibility, or perhaps the Group 2 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa. 

“Even though the trip wasn’t successful to Australia, I feel that the big trip away has seen her come back so much more focused and tougher, and that showed in the win today.”

Purchased by Sarai Stud for $50,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, Mehzebeen is owned by M & Y Davis, Mrs B & W Duncan, Mrs K & T Howe, D & Mrs S Rolston, Sarai Stud & Mrs S Waddell.

It was another poignant moment for Frenchman Xavier Kos and his wife, Beatrice Hild of Sarai Stud, who took advice in buying the filly from former New Zealand Bloodstock manager and part-owner Danny Rolston, now working for the Hong Kong Jockey Club.  Mr Kos was undergoing surgery at the time of the victory, following a serious car accident - and the whole team sends its concerns and well wishes.

Te Akau most recently won the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup with Fierce Flight in 2023, on a day the stable won five races, while Mehzebeen was their third of four winners on Saturday, two at stakes' level. 

“It’s always a thrill to win another race for Danny Rolston, who we’ve formed a close relationship with, and his friends who own this mare,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM.

“It just shows what a great job Mark and Sam have done to bring her back from Australia, get her one-hundred percent right again, and she’s sprinted home very well to win a prestigious race like the Hawkes Bay Gold Cup.

“Winning races for our owners is always what we strive for, and there is always something special about a Trentham victory - it’s such a beautiful, big, open course, that gives every horse its chance and we’ve had a lot of luck there over many years.”

Mehzebeen was strapped by Michael Grey. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz