Zavite wins $1m Auckland Cup

Manawatu breeder Gerald Fell is thankful Auckland Cup winner Zavite, who he labelled a "mongrel" as a yearling, found his way into Anthony Cummings' Sydney stable and not that of a less patient trainer.

Pushed into favouritism for today's $1 million 3200m contest by late money, Zavite stormed to the front for Damien Oliver just before the home turn and raced away in the home straight, beating the best New Zealand hope Booming by 3-1/4 lengths.

It was the third major race victory at Ellerslie racecourse this year for an Australian-trained galloper after A Gold Trail won the group one Railway Handicap (1200m) and Sister Havana the $1 million Karaka Million (1200m).

Zavite has plenty of pedigree on his side, being by champion staying sire Zabeel out of a mare by former champion European stayer Alleged, but he was anything but a prepossessing yearling when Fell, who runs Fairdale Stud, sent him to the Sydney Easter sale along with his son Duncan.

"I would call him a mongrel. He was small and light and we were so embarrassed we would hardly take him out of his box to show anybody," Fell said.

"I told Anthony Cummings about his shortcomings and he said he wanted to buy a stayer and he would give him time.

"A lot of credit goes to Anthony. If he hadn't been given that time he may not have achieved what he has."

Cummings eventually bought Zavite for $A80,000 $NZ104,150), which is now looking a bargain after he took his earnings past $NZ1.9 million with today's victory.

Zavite is the first major 3200m winner for Cummings, whose father Bart Cummings has won 12 Melbourne Cups.

"I've been coming to New Zealand to buy horses since I was 14 and I've seen Fairdale horses ever since then," he said.

"I've got some good horses from them. They've had some great families there that have performed for years."

Zavite won the Adelaide Cup over the same trip this year and the same race, run two days ago, was on the cards this year until they saw the Auckland Cup was worth twice as much.

"New Zealand has been on the world stage from a breeding perspective for a long time, and now with the increased prizemoney it's on the world stage from a racing perspective," Cummings said.

"It's great for New Zealand racing to have international horses come here."

Cummings said he would consider the $A400,000 Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 24 for the horse but he needed a firm track and that event was often at risk of being run on rain-affected ground.

If he gets there he could again face Booming, who was the only horse that looked like troubling Zavite today before being outstayed.

"He's in the Sydney Cup and we will be looking at it, though we'll have to see how he comes through this race first," Booming's trainer Jeff Lynds said.

- NZPA