Racing: Promising stayer filly Zarzuela joins Moody's stable

Zarzuela is the latest good-class stayer to leave New Zealand. Photo / Steven McNicholl

High-class filly Zarzuela has settled into Peter Moody's stable at Caulfield.

Owner David Paykel transferred her from Mark Walker's Matamata stable, but said he had planned to send her to Melbourne to give her better racing opportunities even before Walker had signalled his intention to train in Singapore, the Waikato Times reported.

Zarzuela arrived at Moody's stable last week. Moody already trains Paykel's mare Fairygem.

Zarzuela won the Great Northern Guineas, Waikato Guineas and Championship Stakes last summer.

She started favourite in both the New Zealand Derby and New Zealand Oaks, finishing fourth and third respectively, being unlucky in the Oaks when held up at the top of the straight and going down to Keep The Peace and November Rain in a photo finish.

Her shift to Australia means the first four home in the Derby - Military Move, Corporal Jones, Handsome Zulu and Zarzuela - are all now stabled overseas.

Paykel said no spring programme had yet been set for the Zabeel filly.

"It's early days and she probably won't be gracing the tracks until late August. There are so many opportunities with fillies and mares' races over there.

"People say Caulfield and Melbourne Cups but I don't think so yet."

Paykel praised Walker's handling of Zarzuela and said he thought the trainer was making the right move by setting up in Singapore.

Walker will shift there to set up a Te Akau stable later this year.

- NZPA