A return to stakes company is looming on the horizon for proven black-type performer Zambezi Khan, who struck winning form early in her four-year-old preparation in the A$65,000 Australian Trainers’ Association Plate (1700m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
It was the fourth win of a 17-start career for the New Zealand-bred mare, who has placed on another five occasions including last season’s Gr.3 SA Fillies’ Classic (2500m) at Morphettville.
Trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne kicked off Zambezi Khan’s season with a fifth over 1350m at Donald on November 17, followed by a second over 1500m at Moonee Valley on December 6.
The Mongolian Khan mare was ideally suited to the step up to 1700m for the third start of her campaign on Wednesday, and after settling in fourth among an eight-horse field, the field bunched up before the home turn and she loomed just behind the leaders.
Zambezi Khan warmed into her work in the straight and finished over the top of gallant topweight Miss Tarzy to score a narrow but impressive win.
“The race unfolded perfectly,” apprentice jockey Tom Prebble said. “She was a bit too keen last start, but switched off really well today, so the Paynes have done a good job with her.
“There was a nice tempo on today, which helped her. I presented her in the straight and she ran them down nicely. I think the longer straight here at Flemington allowed her to work through her gears.”
Zambezi Khan has now earned A$153,392, having been purchased for just $5,000 by part-owner Mark Evans on Gavelhouse.com in August of 2021.
Zambezi Khan began her career in the Hastings stable of Guy Lowry, for whom she won on debut as a two-year-old at Tauherenikau in January of 2023. She finished fifth in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) in her only other appearance as a juvenile, then resumed the following spring with a close fifth at Taupo behind subsequent Group One winner Quintessa.
Those performances gave Lowry the confidence to take Zambezi Khan across the Tasman, where she won at Mornington, finished second at Kyneton and ran eighth in the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Zambezi Khan’s owners left her in Victoria after that campaign and put her in the Paynes’ stable. She won in her third start for them at Mildura last April, then finished third at Caulfield before running second behind Positivity in the SA Fillies’ Classic.
Michelle Payne saw promising signs in Wednesday’s win.
“It was an absolutely beautiful ride by Tom,” she said. “The speed was good enough for him to slot in and get the cover that he needed.
“To the horse’s credit, she kept picking up down the straight and scored a wonderful win. A couple of her owners are here today from New Zealand, so that makes it all the sweeter.
“She’s a lovely mare. She showed that in her three-year-old days, and she’s come back well in this prep. Some more black type a bit further down the track would be great, possibly in Tasmania.”
Zambezi Khan was bred by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry and is a daughter of their Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Australian Derby (2400m) and New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Mongolian Khan. The dam of Zambezi Khan is the Makfi mare Zafiki, who won twice and is out of the Listed Rain Lover Plate (2600m) winner Zingo.
