First Group win for Kingman's Zardozi

Godolphin homebred Zardozi registered her first win at stakes level in Saturday's Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington.

Taken from the ANZ Bloodstock News, 8th October 2023:

The James Cummings-trained Zardozi could be set for a tilt in the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) after her win on Saturday.

Having her first start beyond 1400 metres, the daughter of Kingman was ridden by Chad Schofield and seemed to thrive over the longer distance of 1600 metres, showing brilliant cruising speed to shoot clear inside the final 200 metres, beating Aprilia by a length and a half, with a further three-quarters of a length back to Amazonian Lass in third.

Having won on all three of her outings as a juvenile, the filly has struggled to find her form this season, but Sean Keogh, Cummings' Melbourne representative, said they had wanted the filly to get her confidence back.

"She had a wonderful start to her career with James in Sydney racking up those wins. After two disappointing runs up in grade, James saw that race last Sunday and thought it could get some confidence back. She had a good week, and James put the nomination in because she looked like a filly that is going to improve and get to a mile or further. It lined up beautifully, and it is super to get a win like that."

He continued: "She put three on the board, and I suppose James would have looked at her pedigree and earmarked race like the Oaks if she continued that form."

Zardozi  is out of the unraced Dubawi mare Chanderi, who was bought by Godolphin Australia for a whopping 1,300,000gns at the 2017 edition of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Chanderi herself is out of Group 2 winner Silk Sari and hails from the same family as dual Group 1 winner Gossamer.

With Zardozi’s victory in yesterday’s Group 2, Kingman is now represented by four stakes winners in Australia, headed by Group 1-winning colt King Colorado.