A luckless second at her previous start in the Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude, Zeitung enjoyed a trouble-free run to open her stakes account in the Group III The Tab Vanity (1400m) for 3-year-old fillies at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for James Cummings, the daughter of Exceed And Excel tracked into the race under hard riding but was strongest to the line, defeating the Microphone filly Matisse by one and a quarter lengths, with the Zoustar filly Dominetta a short-head back in third.
A Godolphin homebred, Zeitung advances her record to three wins, a second, and a third from nine starts with earnings of $278,075.
“I'd say the barrier she drew today was a great advantage compared with the barrier she drew last time at Caulfield,” Cummings said.
“We chased home resolutely a few weeks ago and she never gave up the ghost. She kept trying and it gave me quite a lot of confidence that she'd be solid here over seven (furlongs) and she was very solid. She missed the kick slightly but she really stormed home out wide.
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“There’s a lot to be said for giving her an opportunity (in the Thousand Guineas) and testing her. She's quite resolute, and if we decided to go there because she pulled up well, then I think she could acquit herself very well.
“But for my team that's a great start to Cup Week and to have nursed this filly through a long prep already and raced in the city early and she' s come to Melbourne and settled in beautifully. It's a big effort and I think we can continue like this but that's got us pretty pumped for sure.”
Zeitung is the first winner from two to race for the unraced Shamardal (USA) mare News Story (GB) whose dam Irish History (Dubawi) was third behind Fallen For You in the Group 1 Coronation stakes at Ascot.
Irish History’s stakes-placed dam Spirit Of Tara (Sadler’s Wells) is a sister to the champion filly Salsabil and the underrated stallion Song Of Tara.
News Story (GB) has a 2-year-old Lonhro filly named Events, a yearling colt by Bivouac and foaled a Kermadec colt on July 30.
Zeitung is the 218th black-type winner for Darley Stud’s pensioned Exceed And Excel.
