NZ Stallion Awards Update

The perennial class of the Cambridge-based sires Zabeel and Volksraad was plain to see at Ellerslie yesterday.
 
Achieving his 5th winner in the event behind Jezabeel (1998), Able Master (2000), Our Unicorn (2001) and Bazelle (2005), Zabeel provided yet another reminder of his supreme staying power with his Anthony Cummings-trained son Zavite (NZ), who streaked home to claim the Gr.1  Stella Artois Auckland Cup (3200m) by 3.3 lengths.

It would serve as the first Gr.1 win for the Fairdale Stud-bred 7YO and with the win,  Zabeel would lay claim to his 39th individual Gr.1 winner and would realise the top status on The Dewar Award.
 
Overtaking High Chaparral, the superlative Cambridge Stud sire's combined stakes earnings figure in Australia and New Zealand for the season now totals $4,198,261 (see table below), with his current $522, 273 buffer boding well for a 14th Dewar Award title.
 
Windsor Park Stud’s champion sire Volksraad, alternatively, dished out his stakes power with the 4 length winner, A Chance To Dream, in the Listed Sunline Vase (2100m).
 
Elevating himself to pole position with Military Move’s Gr.1 Telecom New Zealand Derby win last Saturday, Volksraad looks to have a vice like grip on  The Grosvenor Award.
 
The Green Desert sire has previously collected the highest stakes earnings in New Zealand award on 7 occasions and after yesterday’s racing, he has extended his advantage to $611,689.