The decision to give Zennzella another season on the track paid off for Rick Jamieson’s Gilgai Farm when the daughter of Snitzel captured the Listed Magic Millions Lord Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day.
Ridden by Jamie Kah for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Zennzella sat on the speed set by Keats. Despite a tendency to lay in over the final 200m, she proved a neck too good for her stablemate Mankayan (IRE) (Intello), with Keats (IRE) (Galileo) back in third.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, Zennzella was a $350,000 purchase for Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She had two starts for Lloyd Kennewell before being transferred to the Maher/Eustice stable, for whom she won the Group II Wakeful Stakes at Flemington and was fourth behind She’s Extreme in the Group 1 VRC Oaks.
Consigned by Newgate to the National Broodmare Sale in May, Zennzella was a $750,000 buy for Dermot Farrington Bloodstock for $750,000.
Ciaron Maher said he convinced Rick Jamieson to give the daughter of Snitzel another season on the track.
“Jamie looked confident rounding the home turn, and you did not want to be on anything else,” Maher said.
“She can lay in under pressure and she is still getting there fitness-wise. The other horse Mankayan (IRE) was good late.
“The future looks bright for her. She is a Group II Wakeful winner, and it’s great for Rick Jamieson and the Gilgai team.
“When they purchased her, I said she had a bit more left.
“It’s great for her page, and I’m sure they will be happy.
“She’s Magic Millions, so there is a staying race over 2200m, which is fairly restricted and worth good money. It doesn’t carry black type, so I’ll chat with Rick and the team and see what they want to do.”
Zennzella advances her record to three wins a second and a third from ten starts, with earnings of $388,525
The 4-year-old daughter of Snitzel is the first live foal of the triple Group III winning Zenno Rob Roy (JPN) mare Zennisto, a $200,000 purchase for Baramul Stud at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale.
Zennisto has a yearling sister to Zennzella in the Baramul Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (lot 384).
After foaling another filly by Snitzel in October, Zennisto revisited Snitzel but missed.
