Zen Racing hoping for more glory days with Signora Cabello

Every owner dreams of being represented on racing's biggest occasions and for Chris Edwards and Ross Sankey of Zen Racing, that ambition will become a reality on Wednesday as Signora Cabello lines up in the Queen Mary Stakes.

The filly booked her place at Flat racing's showpiece meeting with a 20-1 success in the Listed Marygate Fillies' Stakes at York last month, a performance that persuaded the powerful Phoenix Thoroughbreds to snap up a 75 per cent stake in her.

As a result, she will carry the white and orange Phoenix colours seen finishing second behind Justify in the Belmont Stakes earlier this month aboard Gronkowski but Zen Racing retained a 25 per cent interest and Wednesday's outing represents a major milestone in a story 15 years in the making.

Edwards and Sankey started Zen Racing earlier in the century and have had horses in training with the likes of Mark Brisbourne, Kevin Ryan and Jim Goldie. While other syndicate members have come and gone during that time, it was Edwards and Sankey who owned Signora Cabello between themselves until Amer Abdulaziz came knocking.

Recalling how they came to source the daughter of Camacho, Edwards says: "Our initial thoughts were that we would look for a two-year-old who would race at two and hopefully train on into a middle-distance horse."

That led the pair, along with John and Sean Quinn and bloodstock agent Richard Knight to Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where the apple of their eye was sourced for a modest 20,000gns.

"A particular attraction of mine was that she has black type running through her pedigree," Edwards explains.

"We had only seen her in photographs but then when she went through the ring, we were totally convinced we had made the right decision.

"Being an early foal, she's well developed and a lovely athletic model, so we were convinced the decision was correct and so it's proven to be."

Her biggest day so far came at York and Edwards recalls: "That was the best day I have had in racing. Signora Cabello won the Listed race and immediately following her race, my wife and I travelled to Aintree where Virgilio, who I jointly own, won under Harry Skelton. What a day and night!"

The York success meant the offers began to come in and Edwards says the decision to part with a controlling share was ultimately a straightforward one for him and his close friend.

"We had a lot of interest from various parties wanting to buy her and most of them wanting to buy her outright," he says. "But we always wanted to retain a percentage ownership in her.

"We were delighted when Phoenix were interested in buying her and were more than happy for us to retain a 25 per cent share.

"As a syndicate, although we've had some success over the last 15 years, I see us as 'grass roots' owners within the industry, investing in and supporting our horses, which takes us up and down Britain.

"But like most owners, we're ever the eternal optimists hoping that just one day, we might come across that gem that will take us to racecourses like Epsom, Goodwood and Ascot. Now we have!"

Wanting to remain a part of Signora Cabello's career wherever she next goes has been key for Edwards and Sankey and Edwards adds: "We want to be able to say that we have owned, albeit a smaller part now, a Royal Ascot runner!

"Regardless of what she does in the Queen Mary, we've achieved an ambition we never thought we would."

Zen Racing hoping to tune in from Barbados

Most owners with a runner at Royal Ascot this week will be reaching for their morning suit and making their way to Berkshire but Edwards and Sankey will be taking in the race from a slightly different location.

Ross Sankey and Chris Edwards: in Barbados but all eyes on Royal Ascot

While Signora Cabello bids for glory in the 5f contest on Wednesday, her part owners will be attempting to find a WiFi connection strong enough to allow them to watch live from Barbados.

The pair arranged the trip many months ago, when the notion that they may be double booked with Royal Ascot seemed little more than a pipe dream and Edwards has been unable to rearrange flights to get home in time.

"We've organised to watch it through Racing UK, although the WiFi isn't the best here so our back up is one of our sons commentating on the phone," he says.

Edwards is still looking forward to the daughter of Camacho taking her chance in the Group 2 and adds: "Just having a filly good enough to run in this race is an achievement. We're under no illusion that she is up against the best two-year-old fillies in the world.

"John and his team will have her fully prepared and we're hoping for a good run from her. Being the eternal optimists, if she gets a good run - you just never know what can happen."

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