Impeccably bred Group Two winner Zayydani has been retired following her game fourth placing in the Gr.3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Ben and JD Hayes-trained daughter of Savabeel suffered a tendon injury and owner-breeders Brent and Cherry Taylor of Trelawney Stud made the decision to retire the five-year-old mare, who will go to stud in spring.
Zayydani holds a special place in the hearts of the Hayes brothers, with the mare the first winner and first stakes winner for the partnership when winning a Listed race at Eagle Farm back in June last year.
Aimed specifically at the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last spring, the target was landed before further success followed in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m).
Fittingly Zayydani was ridden by Luke Nolen in her final start, with the two forging a real affinity as part of the winning streak.
A half-sister to Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Grunt, in addition to the stakes-placed Addison, Zayydani is from an outstanding Trelawney Stud family, with her dam a half-sister to Ocean Park.
“Zayydani has been retired to stud after injuring her tendon yesterday at Eagle Farm. Trelawney would like to thank Ben & JD Hayes and Gary (Fennessy) for all their work with her. We look forward to her foals,” Cherry Taylor tweeted. – NZ Racing Desk