KEY POINTS:
Sir Patrick Hogan was pinching himself after his sire Zabeel produced his third Melbourne Cup winner.
The win of Efficient in the A$5 million ($6.05 million) race, the world's richest long distance handicap, followed the wins of Jezabeel (1998) and Might And Power (1997) who were also by Zabeel.
But more remarkably for Hogan, Zabeel has outdone his own father, super sire Sir Tristram who produced two Melbourne Cup winners.
Sir Tristram, who once held the world record for most individual group one winners, won the Melbourne Cup with Empire Rose (1988) and Gurner's Lane (1982).
"Five (Melbourne Cups) out of the last 25 years for father and son is just unbelievable," Hogan told NZPA today.
"He's (Zabeel) just one amazing stallion. Amazing, amazing."
Zabeel, whose stud fee is $100,000 per service, has emerged as the heir apparent to Sir Tristram. Hogan once turned down an offer of more the $30 million for Sir Tristam.
He died in 1997 and Hogan purchased Zabeel, mainly because he was a son of Sir Tristram.
Hogan has previously described Sir Tristram as lightning striking once. Zabeel is his second good stroke of lightning.
The head of the world-renowned Cambridge Stud in Waikato was delighted for Efficient's owner Lloyd Williams who has been one of Zabeel's greatest fans.
Hogan estimated Williams had been spent $20 million on purchasing stock of Zabeel.
"Lloyd's bought over 100 Zabeels. At an average price of $200,000 that's $20 million," Hogan said.
"I couldn't be more pleased for him. It's absolutely fantastic."
Hogan reckoned Williams would have got much of the $20 million back in stakes and on the punt.
Williams, the former boss of Melbourne's casino, is renowned for his betting. He is not afraid to have bets of well into six figures.
"He's probably won it back too," Hogan said.
"He's not frightened to have a bet."
It was only last Saturday that Hogan thanked Williams for his support of Zabeel when he sent him a copy of his recently released biography, Give A Man A Horse.
Hogan said a message in the book to Williams read: "Dear Lloyd, thank you for making Zabeel famous."
Yesterday Hogan was saying: "Now he's made him even more famous."
Hogan cheered Efficient every stride of the Flemington straight as rider Michael Rodd came wide.
"I could see him pull him wide at the top of the straight," he said.
"I was screaming for the post not to come up too soon.
"Purple Moon (the runner-up) looked like he had it but it's a fantastic result. I'm still shaking."
Efficient won the Victoria Derby (2500m) for three-year-olds at Flemington last year and Hogan marvelled at his sire's success.
"You have to hand it to Zabeel when it comes to the classics and the staying races."
- NZPA
