Zilbiyr Stays Tough

Zilbiyr showed on Wednesday the promise that trainer Robbie Kingston and his team knew the horse was capable of on Geelong Cup day winning the second race on the card, the Jack Rabbit Vineyard BM78 Handicap over 2400m.

The imported horse who is in his second preparation with the Mornington based Kingston won for the second time since coming to Australia and it was his third win overall.

"It was great to see him win again for the owners and congratulations to them." Kingston said after the race.

Included in the happy ownership group of Zilbiyr are Mark and Melissa Bailey who purchased a share through Todd Blum Bloodstock.

"Its great for the owners and Mark and Melissa in particular to see him win again and also for Robbie who has been saying for a while that this horse will appreciate a trip and I was very impressed with the way that he stayed today and rallied in the straight." Said Todd Blum.

"Mark and Melissa have been very patient with this horse and they have share's in a few and love getting to the races so it is good to see them celebrating winners."

Robbie Kingston added "it was a tough and gritty win and a great ride by Beau Merterns who summed up the race perfectly with a good even tempo and he sat out the back smoking the pipe and about the 700m mark or around there three of them went head to head and that certainly helped his chances.

"He travelled so much better up in distance which we always thought that he would appreciate a trip even though his two best runs for us to date were over shorter trips.

"Beau got him out in the clear and the stick in the left hand was the key I think as he certainly has a look around as he did when he hit the front when they went past me.

"The run at 2400m will top him off nicely and there are plenty of options for him going forward so it is an exciting time for the owners, some of which have been with me for a long time and some are new to the stable so hopefully the group have a bit more fun with him."

Beau Merterns who is coming off an outstanding season appears to be carrying his form over with another very well timed run down the Geelong straight.

"Yeah it was a bit tight in the finish and I sort of hit the front a little bit too soon and I sort of wanted to hold him together a bit longer but he did a good job and really toughed out a nice race." Merterns said.

"I was happy to get on the back of the one I did and follow him into the straight and he gave me a really nice cart up and I travelled up really nice and I wasn't worried about the leaders kicking too much and like I said I got to the front a little bit too soon but he was tough."

Zilbiyr has now had 17 starts across Ireland and Australia with three wins overall, two of which coming from his last four runs. He has placed a further six times and has now taken his career prizemoney close to $68,000.

Zilbiyr is by Holy Roman Emperor who is again shuttling to Australia to Aquis Farm in Queensland and is out of the Dalakhani mare, Zaziyra. Zilbiyr was bred in France by His Highness The Aga Khan in France.