Zavateri to Stand at Tally-Ho Stud in 2027

Group 1 winner Zavateri (IRE) will make his final racecourse appearance in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) Oct. 17 at Ascot Racecourse before retiring to stand at Tally-Ho Stud for the 2027 breeding season. The Mick and Janice Mariscotti-owned colt bounced back to form with a decisive victory in the Aug. 29 Celebration Mile Stakes (G2) at Goodwood Racecourse, and Tally-Ho's Roger O'Callaghan confirmed the colt would join the operation's stallion roster next year. He said: "We were thrilled with his win in the Celebration Mile, we got a great kick out of it. He got a great ride (from Charlie Bishop) and well done to Eve (Johnson Houghton) for having him in top form after a quick return. "When he beat Gstaad at the Curragh last year, that's when he really put his head above the parapet. We all love that kind of horse, ones that have that will to win that most horses just don't have. That was the big attraction with him. "He's a proper horse; he was doing it in June of his 2-year-old season and is still doing it now. He's perfect for what we want. We all want to breed horses like him, and it's not easy to come by them. "He was well bred by the Gunthers, was well bought by Anthony Bromley, and well trained by Eve. Thanks also to Mick and Janice Mariscotti, they were very good to deal with." A son of Without Parole (GB), Zavateri enjoyed a near-flawless 2-year-old campaign, breaking his maiden on debut at Salisbury Racecourse before following up in the July Stakes (G2) and Vintage Stakes (G2). He then gained his group 1 laurels in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) at the Curragh, defeating a field that included Gstaad (GB), before finishing fourth in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at Newmarket Racecourse. Purchased by Johnson Houghton and Highflyer Bloodstock's Anthony Bromley for 35,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 in 2024, Zavateri was by John Gunther and TTR Bloodstock; Gunther also bred his 2018 St James's Palace Stakes (G1)-winning sire, now standing at Newsells Park Stud. Zavateri is out of the unraced Siyouni (FR) mare Zeroua, who was bred by the Aga Khan Studs and is a half sister to dual Australian group 3 winner Zeyrek (FR). Zeroua was added to the Gunthers' European broodmare band when signed for by Avenue Bloodstock at €90,000 at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in 2021. Zeroua is a granddaughter of Zarkava (IRE), the unbeaten champion whose nine-race career included victories in the 2008 Prix de Diane (G1), Prix Vermeille (G1), and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). Zarkava is also the dam of Zarak (FR), the Dubawi (IRE) horse who won the 2017 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) before establishing himself as a leading sire, with group 1 winners Haya Zark (FR), Metropolitan (FR), and Zagrey (FR) among his progeny.