Racing: Zabeel's son Preferment to take up residence at Brighthill

Preferment winning the Victoria Derby in 2014. Photo / Bruno Cannatelli

A champion son of the legendary Zabeel has been secured for stud duty by Brighthill Farm.

The four-time group one winner Preferment will be a top-notch addition to Nick and Anne-Marie King's Waikato operation.

"We'd been on the look-out for a stallion since Azamour died, but we were determined to sit it out if necessary to find the right one," Nick King said.

"Preferment fits all our criteria - he was a spectacular racehorse and it's highly likely that he's the last Derby-winning son of the great Zabeel.

"He's a very tidy, athletic type and being a four-time group one winner says it all. He was a champion Australian stayer and his record, combined with his pedigree, speaks for itself."

He is by the champion sire of sires Zabeel and has the speed influence of both Flying Spur and Canny Lad on his dam's side.

Advice from one of the wisest thoroughbred heads in the game also played a part in securing Australia's champion stayer of the 2015-16 season.

"Last November Sir Patrick Hogan suggested to us that we should try and get Preferment and for him to say that gave us even more confidence," King said. Sold through Cambridge Stud's 2013 Premier Sale draft at Karaka, Chris Waller went to $190,000 to secure the colt. He retired as the winner of five races and more than $3.6 million in stake earnings.

"He's going to stand at an introductory offer of $12,500 + GST," King said. "That's a reflection of announcing him at this later stage and obviously we want him to be well-supported.

- NZ Racing Desk