Almanzor mare claims Cup honours

Mehzebeen turned her fortunes around when she came from the back of the field to claim the thick end of the stake in the Taupo Cup.Rider Michael McNab picked a path one off the fence aboard the Almanzor mare near the turn and she charged home for the third win of her 11-start career, which also features a runner-up finish in last season’s G1 New Zealand Oaks.Co-trainer Sam Bergerson was delighted to see Mehzebeen back in winning form in her first start since returning from the New Zealand Cup carnival. “She was really stiff down at Riccarton when finishing sixth in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy and she has done really well since she got back home,” he said.“She has really matured in the last six months and we think there is more to come from her as she continues to strengthen up.“We’re not sure where she will go to next, but there is a special conditions race over 2100 metres on Wellington Cup Day at Trentham that is worth $350,000 so that holds a lot of appeal given she absolutely thrives on a big roomy track like that.”Bred by Sir Peter Vela under his Pencarrow Thoroughbreds banner, Mehzebeen is a younger half-sister to two-time Hong Kong winner Smiling Pride from the family of G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner Te Akau Coup and multiple Australian stakes winner Sacramento.