Still floating after our day Saturday.
Watching Rocket One soar over the last to win the Marcellus Frost. A big, beautiful, proud horse who looked promising before missing almost two years. To win a novice stakes at Iroquois, any race at the Iroquois, take a big, deep breath and know it’s worth it now.
Watching Zabeel Champion somehow, someway, close from eighth at the turn, fifth over the last to nail a gallant Swore on the line in the Iroquois. One of those that you would have been proud of your horse either way but to win, to win the Iroquois…a lifetime highlight. A race my father won twice with Owhata Chief and chased with Gogong and others. A race I won on To Ridley in 1996 and 2000 with Pinkie Swear. A race I lost on Avanico in 1999, kicking myself for going outside while Cort Marzullo went inside on Rowdy Irishman. Now, feeling better, knowing that my friend Ferdinand didn’t have many Iroquois(s) left and I somehow did.
All those memories, flooding back, as Zabeel Champion defied it all to upset the $250,000 stakes. I spend most of my days analyzing form, inspecting prospects, thinking and wondering about different horses. Zabeel wouldn’t have made the first cut, a hard-run flat horse, winning his debut for Mark Johnston, going to Royal Ascot, climbing the ladder to a 104 rating. Then some jumps wins, then stalled, then Matt Coleman sending his name to me. We hatched a plan, he won twice for his British-based owner, Martin Tedham, and our trainer, Jack Fisher. Then Riverdee scoured up the money to keep him. Hard luck, a third in the fastest-run Iroquois two years ago, niggling issues. A fall while going well in the Iroquois last spring, niggling issues, then a return to the place which had teased us twice before.
Maaaaaan. He did it.
