The Gr.2 Adelaide Cup in March over 3200m is the next big race target for last-start New Zealand Cup winner Mehzebeen (NZ) (Almanzor).
Mark Walker’s tough staying mare arrived in Melbourne this week ahead of an Australian campaign this summer and autumn.
“She’s had a little freshen-up and she’s a horse that Mark wanted to send over to have a go at a race like the Adelaide Cup,” said Te Akau’s Melbourne-based assistant trainer Ben Gleeson.
“She’s had the freshen-up, we’ll build her up, we’ll give her a jumpout here.
“There’s a nice progression of benchmark 2000m races that she’ll kick off in and progress through; there’ll be a run at Moonee Valley and then hopefully that can lead into the Adelaide Cup.”
Mehzebeen has won five of her 19 career starts to date, including the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup, while she also finished second in last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks behind subsequent Gr.1 ATC Oaks winner Pennyweka.
Mehzebeen was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds and offered in their draft at Karaka 2021, where she was bought for $50,000 by Danny Rolston, who was previously Director of Sales for New Zealand Bloodstock and is these days Executive Manager, International Sale / Owners Advisory Services for the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
