Zafonic

Zafonic (1 April 1990 – 7 September 2002) was a European Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Kentucky. He was the 1992 European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and won the following year's 2,000 Guineas.

Zafonic
SireGone West
GrandsireMr. Prospector
DamZaizafon
DamsireThe Minstrel
SexStallion
Foaled1 April 1990[1]
CountryUnited States
ColourBrown/Black
BreederJuddmonte Farms
OwnerKhalid Abdullah
TrainerAndré Fabre
Record7: 5-1-0
Earnings£374,042
Major wins
Prix Morny (1992)
Prix de la Salamandre (1992)
Dewhurst Stakes (1992)
2,000 Guineas (1993)
Awards
European Champion Two-Yr-Old Colt (1992)
Last updated on 5 February 2007

Background

Zafonic was sired by the Mr. Prospector stallion Gone West, out of the Seaton Delaval Stakes winner Zaizafon, a daughter of The Minstrel.[2] He was owned and bred by Khalid Abdullah and conditioned by the French trainer André Fabre.

Racing career

Racing at age two, Zafonic went undefeated. After winning a minor race at Deauville in August, he followed up with a win in the Group One Prix Morny at the same course ten days later.[3] Three weeks later in the Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp, he took the lead in the straight and pulled clear to beat Kingmambo by three lengths.[4] He then was shipped to the Newmarket Racecourse in the United Kingdom where he won the Dewhurst Stakes by four lengths in "very impressive" style.[5] His 1992 performance earned him the Cartier Racing Award as Europe's Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.

At three, Zafonic started at 10-1 ON for his debut in the Prix Djebel but lost his unbeaten record when he was beaten a short head by Kingmambo. Sent back to Newmarket for the British Classic, the 2,000 Guineas, Zafonic won by 3½ lengths from Barathea and breaking a 45-year-old course record.[6][7] In the Sussex Stakes, the colt burst a blood vessel and finished seventh.

Stud career

His racing career over, Zafonic was sent to his owner's Banstead Manor Stud near the village of Cheveley in East Cambridgeshire. He sired more than two dozen stakes winners including Xaar, the 1997 European 2-Year-Old Champion and winner of the Dewhurst Stakes and Prix de la Salamandre, Count Dubois (Gran Criterium), Zafeen (St James's Palace Stakes), Iffraaj and Trade Fair.[8]

In August 2002, Zafonic's owner leased him for the southern hemisphere covering season to Arrowfield Stud in Scone, New South Wales, Australia. Only a few days after being released from quarantine, Zafonic died on 7 September 2002 as the result of an accident at Arrowfield's paddock.[9]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Zafonic (USA), bay stallion, 1990[1]
Sire
Gone West (USA)
1984		 Mr. Prospector (USA)
1970		 Raise a Native Native Dancer
Raise You
Gold Digger Nashua
Sequence
Secrettame (USA)
1978		 Secretariat Bold Ruler
Somethingroyal
Tamerett Tim Tam
Mixed Marriage
Dam
Zaizafon (USA)
1982		 The Minstrel (CAN)
1974		 Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Fleur Victoria Park
Flaming Page
Mofida (GB)
1974		 Right Tack Hard Tack
Polly Macaw
Wold Lass Vilmorin
Cheb (Family: 9-e)[10]

References
  1. "Zafonic pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. "Zafonic's pedigree and racing stats". Pedigreequery.com. 2002-09-07. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  3. "Results from the 2.35 race at DEAUVILLE (FR) – 23 August 1992". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  4. "Results from the 3.35 race at LONGCHAMP (FR) – 13 September 1992". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  5. "Results from the 3.40 race at NEWMARKET – 16 October 1992". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  6. "Zafonic". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  7. Hayward, Paul (1993-05-02). "Racing: Mighty Zafonic zooms from zero to hero". The Independent. London.
  8. "Zafonic Stud Record". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  9. "Zafonic dies in paddock accident". Thoroughbred Times. 2002-09-08. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  10. http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family9e.htm
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