Racing: Dancing to Zabeat

Zabeat broke a sequence of minor placings in major cup races in the last 10 months when scoring a gallant victory in the $250,000 Wellington Cup at Trentham yesterday.

The Rhythm four-year-old, after enjoying the run of the race in the 3200-metre Group One event, responded valiantly to the urgings of senior rider Peter Johnson to snatch a short-head win over outsider Gorgeous George.

From Heaven, another not wanted by the punters, finished strongly for third but was 1 3/4 lengths behind the first two.

Zabeat is prepared at Ruakaka by Dean and Donna Logan and raced by Donna in partnership with Auckland real estate agent Ashley Goodwin.

The pair outlaid $20,000 to buy the horse as a yearling and he has now won them four races and close to $300,000 in stakemoney.

Although only a four-win horse, Zabeat had recorded several creditable performances in top staying races before yesterday.

These included a second in the A$200,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) in Queensland and a third in the A$175,000 Grafton Cup (2400m) in New South Wales last winter and a third in this year's $350,000 Auckland Cup (3200m).

An emotional Donna Logan said her prayers were answered as Zabeat got in the deciding stride yesterday.

"My mother died last year and I said a little prayer to her today to help us out and she did," Logan said as she fought back the tears.

The Auckland Cup on New Year's Day had been Zabeat's main mission this campaign but a soft track that day ruined his chances and he did well to finish as close as third, according to Logan.

"The Wellington Cup was a bit of an afterthought but he had done so well since the Auckland Cup and we knew he only had to strike a firm track to show his real ability."

The win completed a big Trentham treble for the Logans, who had previously won a Wellington Stakes (1600m) with El Duce and the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) with Vapour Trail on the track.

For jockey Johnson it was his second cup victory following his success aboard Flying Luskin in 1990.

He said Zabeat travelled perfectly just in behind the leaders to the home turn and stuck gamely after hitting the front early in the home straight.

Gorgeous George's rider Lee Rutherford was visibly upset in having gone so close to victory, only to be denied on the line.

Rutherford took the horse to the lead in the early stages before getting a perfect rail behind the southerner Heureka when she took over at the 900m.

Gorgeous George kicked gamely on the turn and it was only the bob of the head that denied him an upset win.

Gorgeous George, like the winner, was also only a three-win horse going into this year's cup while third-placed From Heaven had only won four races.

Favourite for the race, Etoile Du Nord, could only manage fifth after appearing to have every chance.

"She was feeling the hard track a bit and never let down like she did in the Marton Cup last start," jockey Noel Harris said.