At the age of six and on only his tenth start Zabeel Prince posted a career best to win the G1 Prix d'Ispahan under a great ride from Andrea Atzeni.
This gelding is a wonderful example of how patience pays off in the long run. He had only the one start as a three-year-old before recording a hat-trick of victories at four. He won his first stakes race at the age of five and this season he has proved a revelation; winning a red hot renewal of the G3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes on his seasonal return, a race which saw the subsequent G1 Lockinge winner Mustashry finish back in third place. That was his first start over the intermediate 1m1f distance and it was over the same distance five weeks later that he proved his metal at the very highest level with an accomplished victory in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan under a great ride from Andrea Atzeni.
I would like to extend my thanks to Zabeel Prince's patient owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid for his continued support and of course to the hard-working team at home who have produced this older horse in the form of his life. (Roger Varian)
This win is the 16th Group 1 success for Varian Stable since Roger took over the reins from his old boss, the late Michael Jarvis, in 2011.