Wodonga Cup for Zabisco

Three years ago Luke Nolen steered home Syndrome to a Wodonga Cup victory for the stable and Sunday was a case of history repeating with Ballymore again teaming with Black Caviar's rider for victory.

This time around the win went to the talented Zabisco, an up-and-coming son of Zabeel who was having just his second run this preparation.

A horse who has always been well regarded but who has always been inclined to over-race, thus proving difficult to ride, Zabisco raced more generously when resuming at Flemington on Cup Day - but unfortunately he failed to show much that day.

But we hoped for second up improvement and he certainly showed it, settling nicely behind a strong pace and finishing on strongly when asked for his effort.

It was not all plain sailing however, Nolen twice disappointed getting on to the backs of horses who did not take him into the race... but all worked out well!

"I just let him relax and find his feet," he said, adding that the five-year-old was "good and solid to the line."

"He is open to even more improvement," he continued - "and I am sure he will be winning better races."

Raced by Tony McGrath, John Voitin, Troy Mobbs, Ronald Vela, Larry Greene, Ian Frykberg, Ian Wales, Andrew Dale, the Purvis Loughnan Syndicate (manager Daryl Purvis), Ken Wikeley and Jonathon Collins (purchased as a tried horse in NZ by the latter) has won five of his 17 starts.

A nicely bred entire, Zabisco can hopefully earn some black type - "we hope he one day he will be worth something as a stallion," said part-owner Andrew Dale who was on course to cheer on his horse with fellow owner Ian Wales.