Riccarton Treble - Our (NZ) Cup Runneth Over

With a magnificent pedigree for the trip, and given a lovely ride by Craig Grylls, Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay, by Zabeel) dominantly won the $400,000 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) on Saturday at Riccarton.

Runner-up in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) as a three-year-old, and peaking at right time under the tutelage of trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Mehzebeen won the Taupo Cup (2000m) last season, was an unlucky second three starts ago in the Waverley Cup (2200m), and staged a terrific all-the-way win in the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2600m), the traditional lead up race to the New Zealand Cup, last Saturday at Riccarton.

Although unable to make the weight a week earlier, jockey Craig Grylls made a concerted effort to ride at 53kg and was duly rewarded.

After beginning well to situate outside the leader, Mehzebeen gained cover before the post with a lap to run, was unimpeded ranging wide at the 600m and quickened beautifully on better footing nearer the outskirts of the track to win with utmost authority.

“That was big,” Grylls said. “The plan was to ride as we did, to get a bit of cover, and she travelled so well throughout.

“It’s great to get a New Zealand Cup win for Mark & Sam and congratulations to the owners.”

Steady in the market as second favourite, she paid $5.90 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote, and clocked 3:27.4 for the classic two-mile (3200m).flat race.

“It was a great win and she was really well ridden by Gryllsy,” Walker said.

“He got her into a lovely spot and, gee, she was strong at the end of two miles.

“We’ll let the dust settle over the weekend, and map out a definite plan, but my thinking is to give her a preparation aimed at the Adelaide Cup.”

The $302,250 Adelaide Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m) is held on 10 March 2025 at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide.

“It would be a nice race and if she went to the Adelaide Cup it would give her time to come home and have a decent spell, before setting her for the Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) in November next year,” Walker said.

“So it’s very exciting times for a good staying mare like Mehzebeen and I’d like to thank the owners for their patience. You have to give staying horses time and they’ve allowed us to do that.

“The Almanzor progeny are absolutely flying, there’s a couple at the Ready To Run Sale next week that we’ll be certainly looking at, and you can do no better than having Zabeel (Sir Tristram) as the dam sire.”

On course, Bergerson said: “The win last week gave us confidence to press on and Hunter (Durrant) and Ashlyn (Lee) were really pleased with how she bounced through the run and thrived this week.

“It was a fantastic ride to get one-one from the barrier (9). She just went to sleep and was very strong late. It was a fantastic win by the mare.

“The further the better for her, we’ve always thought that. She hasn’t had the rub of the green at times, but it’s especially pleasing to pick up these two valuable wins.

“It’s fantastic for the owners, small time breeders as well, and they put a lot into the game. This will be a massive thrill for them.” 

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 E & & Y M Davis, Mrs B & W R Duncan, Mrs K J & T L Howe, D J & Mrs S P Rolston, Sarai Stud & Mrs S Waddell.

It was another special moment for Frenchman Xavier Kos and his wife, Beatrice Hild, at Sarai Stud, who worked on the advice of former New Zealand Bloodstock manager Danny Rolston, now working for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, in buying the filly.

Kos is a radiologist at Waikato Hospital, where co-owner Mark Davis is a cardiologist, and in attendance with his wife, Yasmin, it was Davis that made an acceptance speech on behalf of the owners.

“We owe thanks to Sir Peter Vela at New Zealand Bloodstock for staging the sale in 2021 during a difficult with Covid protocols,” Davis said.

“Danny Rolston thought this would be a pretty good horse for our group of owners, and he was right.

“I’d like to thank my friend and colleague Xavier Kos, and our trainers and the team at Te Akau for the fantastic way they’ve looked after this mare.

“Also, I’d like to thank Craig for riding a superb race, thanks to the sponsor, and thank you to everyone that came to the races today.”

Mehzebeen is from the family of Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) winner Te Akau Coup (Thorn Park) and Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner Don Garcia (Danehill), both purchased by Ellis as yearlings at Karaka, and also triple stakes winner Sacramento (Pierro).

Instrumental in the stamina gene pool of Mehzebeen, dam sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), the leading New Zealand sire of stakes winners, is a major influence in the pedigrees of so many great staying thoroughbreds. 

“What a great staying performance and she looks in for a very exciting future in two-mile races,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM.

“Mark (Walker) told me this morning that he thought she could be in the Melbourne Cup next year, and that she was a really big chance today. 

“We’re so proud to have won this race with a daughter of Almanzor, who is doing a fantastic job at Cambridge Stud for the Lindsay’s. 

“She was selected by bloodstock agent Danny Rolston, one of the best judges, in my opinion, in the world, and I’m so proud that he chose Te Akau to train the mare for himself and his friends in the ownership.

“It will be an unbelievable thrill for the owners and it’s always been such a great race to win, given its long, long history of over 160 years.

“Our racing manager Reece Trumper did a great job in getting Craig Grylls to ride the horse at 53kg and it’s a credit to his commitment for making the light weight.

“Craig’s father, Gary, rode my first Group One winner, and the Grylls family has had a great association over the years with Te Akau.

“To win the 1000 Guineas with Captured By Love and have three winners on New Zealand Cup day is a massive thrill for everyone at Te Akau, and I’d like to commend the Canterbury Jockey Club for another great week of racing.

“Hunter Durrant and his team that manage our stable at Riccarton have done a fantastic job, too. We’re the leading stable in the South Island and love having a permanent base there.

“Hunter rides these horses in work, himself, which goes a long way in knowing just how they’re going. He’s a genius at what he does and the success we’ve having down there is a reflection of a really good team of staff.

“It’s also a massive thrill for me to see Sam Bergerson winning these races, in just his second season of training with Mark Walker, and the 1000 Guineas / New Zealand Cup double is a great feather in his cap.”

Mehzebeen was strapped by Ashlyn Lee. 

Photo - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz