Zilzal (horse)

Zilzal
Sire	Nureyev
Grandsire	Northern Dancer
Dam	French Charmer
Damsire	Le Fabuleux
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	31 March 1986
Country	United States
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Kentucky Select Bloodstock I
Owner	Mana Al Maktoum
Trainer	Sir Michael Stoute
Jockey	Walter Swinburn
Record	6: 5-0-0
Earnings	£397,607
Major wins
Jersey Stakes (1989) Criterion Stakes (1989) Sussex Stakes (1989) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1989)
Awards
English Horse of the Year (1989) English Champion Three-year-old (1989) Timeform rating: 137

Zilzal (foaled 31 March 1986) is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career that lasted just over five months ,he won five of his six races, including the Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He was the Horse of the Year in England in 1989 and achieved the highest Timeform rating of the year. Zilzal was owned by Mana Al Maktoum and trained by Sir Michael Stoute. He was ridden by Walter Swinburn in all of his races. Zilzal became a stallion after retiring from racing and sired some top racehorses, including Always Loyal, Among Men, and Faithful Son.

Background

Zilzal was foaled on 31 March 1986, a chestnut colt, he was bred by Kentucky Select Bloodstock.^[1] He was sired by Nureyev,^[1] who finished first in the 2000 Guineas in 1980 but was disqualified for interfering with other horses. Nureyev only ran three times but became a successful stallion. Amongst his other progeny were the undefeated Fasliyev, 1000 Guineas winner Miesque, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Peintre Celebre, and Epsom Oaks winner Reams of Verse.^[2] Zilzal's dam, French Charmer, was a daughter of Le Fabuleux.^[1]

Racing career

Ridden by Walter Swinburn, Zilzal won his first race, a seven_furlong race at Leicester on 30 May 1989, by ten lengths from Mbulwa.^[3] At Royal Ascot, he won the Jersey Stakes by four lengths from Russian Royal, with Distant Relative, who went on to win the Sussex Stakes in 1990, a further length back in third place.^[4] He then started as the 1/4 favourite in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket. Zilzal led throughout and beat Russian Bond by five lengths. Russian Bond was two lengths clear of Tay Wharf and Sure Gold, who finished last of the four runners.^[5]

He then stepped up in class for the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The previous season's winner, Warning, started as the 7/4 favourite, with Zilzal at 5/2, Markofdistinction at 3/1, and St. James's Palace Stakes winner Shaadi at 7/1. As the field entered the finishing straight, Zilzal was in third place of the eight runners. He took the lead from Opening Verse with over one furlong left to run and quickened to win by three lengths from 100/1 outsider Green Line Express, with Markofdistinction a further length and a half back in third place.^[6]

At the end of September, he faced four rivals in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. His opponents in the one-mile race were the undefeated Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Polish Precedent, Distant Relative, Green Line Express, and Cottenham. The betting was dominated by the two unbeaten horses, with Zilzal sent off at evens and Polish Precedent at 11/8. Zilzal led throughout and beat Polish Precedent by three lengths, with Distant Relative a further two lengths back in third.^[7] In November Zilzal travelled to America for the Breeders' Cup Mile, where he faced ten opponents including Arlington Million winner Steinlen, Simply Majestic ,and Sabona. Zilzal started as the even money favourite but finished sixth, about four and a half lengths behind winner Steinlen.^[8] He was then retired to stud.

Race record

Date	Race name	D (F)	Course	Class	Prize	Odds	Runners	Place	Margin (L)	Winner/Runner-up	Time	Jockey	Ref.
30 May 1989	EBF Stakes	7	Leicester		£2,952	13/8	10	1	10	Mbulwa	1:25.80	Walter Swinburn	[3]
21 June 1989	Jersey Stakes	7	Ascot	G3	£30,293	10/11	12	1	4	Russian Royal	1:26.30	Walter Swinburn	[4]
1 July 1989	Criterion Stakes	7	Newmarket	G3	£19,212	1/4	4	1	5	Russian Bond	1:25.95	Walter Swinburn	[5]
26 July 1989	Sussex Stakes	8	Goodwood	G1	£192,150	5/2	8	1	3	Green Line Express	1:36.77	Walter Swinburn	[6]
30 September 1989	Queen Elizabeth II Stakes	8	Ascot	G1	£153,000	Evens	5	1	3	Polish Precedent	1:40.57	Walter Swinburn	[7]
4 November 1989	Breeders' Cup Mile	8	Gulfstream Park	G1	£250,000	Evens	11	6	4.75	Steinlen	1:37.20	Walter Swinburn	[8]

Note: F = Furlongs, L = Lengths

Assessment

At the end of the 1989 season, Zilzal was rated as the joint-best horse with Old Vic on 134, ahead of 2000 Guineas and Derby winner Nashwan.^[9] He was given the highest Timeform rating of the year on 137.^[10] He was also England's Horse of the Year and Champion Three-year-old.^[11]

Stud career

Zilzal first stood at Gainsborough Stud near Versailles in Kentucky. He was retired from stud duties in 2005 due to lack of demand.^[11] From his 16 crops, Zilzal sired 396 foals. 320 made it to the track, and 214 of them won 719 races among them.^[12] During his stud career, he was treated for infertility problems.^[11] However, he did meet with some success as a stallion, siring three Group 1 winners and several Group race winners. His most notable progeny were:

Notable progeny

s = stallion, m = mare, g = gelding

Foaled	Name	Sex	Major Wins	Ref.
1991	Zilzal Zamaan	s	Ormonde Stakes	[13]
1992	Shaanxi	m	Prix du Rond Point, Prix d'Astarbe	[14]
1993	Nero Zilzal	s	Prix Exbury	[15]
1994	Always Loyal	m	Poule d'Essai des Pouliches	[16]
1994	Among Men	s	Jersey Stakes, Celebration Mile, Sussex Stakes	[17]
1994	Faithful Son	g	Prince of Wales's Stakes	[18]
1999	Don Fernando	g	Prestbury Juvenile Novices' Hurdle	[19]
2000	Gold Medallist	g	Prix Kergorlay	[20]
2002	I'm So Lucky	g	Celebration Chase	[21]

Zilzal also sired the dams of Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Darjina, Hong Kong Horse of the Year Good Ba Ba, Prix de l'Abbaye winner Var and Queen Anne Stakes winner No Excuse Needed.^[12]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Zilzal, chestnut stallion, 1986^[1]

Sire Nureyev (USA) b. 1977	Northern Dancer (CAN) b. 1961	Nearctic br. 1954	Nearco
			Lady Angela
		Natalma b. 1957	Native Dancer
			Almahmoud
	Special (USA) b. 1969	Forli ch. 1963	Aristophanes
			Trevisa
		Thong b. 1964	Nantallah
			Rough Shod II
Dam French Charmer (USA) ch. 1978	Le Fabuleux (GB) ch. 1961	Wild Risk b. 1940	Rialto
			Wild Violet
		Anguar b. 1950	Verso II
			La Rochelle
	Bold Example (USA) b. 1969	Bold Lad ch. 1962	Bold Ruler
			Misty Morn
		Lady Be Good b. 1956	Better Self
			Past Eight

Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut

See also

• List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses

References

1. "Zilzal Pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
2. "Remembering Nureyev". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
3. "Result from the 4:30 race at Leicester". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
4. "Jersey Stakes Result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
5. "Criterion Stakes Result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
6. "Sussex Stakes Result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
7. "Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
8. "Breeders' Cup Mile Result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
9. "Ratings: Top Rated Horses". Britishhorseracing.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
10. "Glorious Goodwood: Timeform rate Frankel 142". Betting.betfair.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
11. "English Champion Zilzal Pensioned". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
12. "‘Memory Lane’". Irishracing.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
13. "Zilzal Zamaan". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
14. "Shaanxi". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
15. "Nero Zilzal". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
16. "Always Loyal". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
17. "Among Men". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
18. "Kazunoko". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
19. "Don Fernando". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
20. "Gold Medallist". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
21. "I'm So Lucky". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-13.