Zia Zabel
Zia Zabel is not unobvious, but he is still worthy of inclusion after he ran a big race in the Gallinule Stakes. Settled in mid-division early on, in a share of fifth place behind a moderate pace that was set by Shaihaan, he travelled well into the home straight and he picked up nicely when Billy Lee asked him to. He just couldn't get to Causeway, the odds-on favourite, but he went out on his shield. He closed with every stride, he got to within a head of the Tetrarch Stakes winner, who was ridden more prominently in a race in which the pace held up well.
This was another race at The Curragh on Irish Guineas weekend in which it was difficult to make ground from the rear. Shaihaan and Causeway raced in first and second places from early, and they finished third and first. Zia Zabel split the pair of them, coming from mid-division, only fifth passing the three-furlong marker. He was fastest of all through each of the last four furlongs.
#This was just Zia Zabel's fourth run. He kept on well to beat the well-regarded The Publican's Son in an auction race at Cork in April on his return this season, and this was obviously a significant step forward from that, into a Group 3 race. He obviously stays 10 furlongs well, and his dam is a half-sister to Ziyad, who won a Group 2 race over a mile and a half, but he is a half-brother to Pipsy, a Grade 2 winner in America over five and a half furlongs, so there is speed in his pedigree too. He has moved since this race from Natalia Lupini to Emmet Mullins, who reportedly, with his new owner Paul Byrne, is considering supplementing him to the Irish Derby. That would not be outlandish. He may not be under the radar any more, but he is an exciting colt, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.
The Curragh, 23rd May 2026
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