Zonda (horse)
Encyclopedia
Zonda is a retired Thoroughbred
racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby
in 1997. His career faced unfortunate setbacks from injury. Despite this, many consider him one of New Zealand's top horses of the 1990s.
The son of Zabeel took three races to clear maidens, but followed that Paeroa win with four more wins in a row, including the Avondale Guineas, the Derby and a Group 2 victory at Moonee Valley
in Melbourne.
He followed that Melbourne win up with a third-placing at Caulfield and second in the Cadbury Guineas, before finishing a disappointing fifth in the Rosehill Guineas
. However, it became clear that he had suffered an injury in that race, and he wasn't seen again on the track for two and a half years.
Zonda returned to his very best to win the King's Plate and the Zabeel Classic
at Ellerslie Racecourse
in successive starts. However, he suffered yet another injury not long afterwards and was off the scene for another year, and was only seen on the track on two more occasions in his career.
His career was so injury-plagued that he was very rarely seen at his best on the track after his Derby victory. His trainer Roger James has described him as both the best horse he's trained and the most frustrating.
But it is his Derby win that sticks in the memory. It was clear before the field had even turned for home in the race what the result would be. After seemingly effortlessly cruising to the lead he produced a stunning burst of acceleration and left his rivals in his wake, with the final margin at the line being four and three-quarter lengths, a margin that no Derby winner has gone close to matching since.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
in 1997. His career faced unfortunate setbacks from injury. Despite this, many consider him one of New Zealand's top horses of the 1990s.
The son of Zabeel took three races to clear maidens, but followed that Paeroa win with four more wins in a row, including the Avondale Guineas, the Derby and a Group 2 victory at Moonee Valley
Moonee Valley Racecourse
Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club...
in Melbourne.
He followed that Melbourne win up with a third-placing at Caulfield and second in the Cadbury Guineas, before finishing a disappointing fifth in the Rosehill Guineas
Rosehill Guineas
The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in March at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. A race for three-year-olds at set weights, it is contested on turf over a distance of 2000 metres .-Distance:...
. However, it became clear that he had suffered an injury in that race, and he wasn't seen again on the track for two and a half years.
Zonda returned to his very best to win the King's Plate and the Zabeel Classic
Zabeel Classic
The Zabeel Classic is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race run at weight-for-age over a distance of 2000 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand...
at Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit of approximately 1,900 m.-History:The first race meeting was held at Ellerslie on 25 May 1874...
in successive starts. However, he suffered yet another injury not long afterwards and was off the scene for another year, and was only seen on the track on two more occasions in his career.
His career was so injury-plagued that he was very rarely seen at his best on the track after his Derby victory. His trainer Roger James has described him as both the best horse he's trained and the most frustrating.
But it is his Derby win that sticks in the memory. It was clear before the field had even turned for home in the race what the result would be. After seemingly effortlessly cruising to the lead he produced a stunning burst of acceleration and left his rivals in his wake, with the final margin at the line being four and three-quarter lengths, a margin that no Derby winner has gone close to matching since.