Produced by Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Service – Racing & Breeding News Zaha, a Group 1 winning Canadian juvenile who does sire duties at one of Queensland's major studs, Bob and Maree Frappell's Clear Mountain Fairview at Greenmount, Darling Downs, suggested he has the capacity to provide good performers when he just missed a double on major tracks in the State last weekend.

The first leg of that double was provided by the Frappell bred two-year-old gelding Zahite, the runner up in the open handicap for the age group at Doomben last Saturday, and the second by the eye-catching victory of the three-year-old Zahbaj in a 1000 meter event at the Sunshine Coast the next day.

A winner by margins of 2.3 and 1.8 lengths and in class record time, Zahbaj races for a group of owners, including his breeders Jim and Anne Cosgrove, out of the Fred Adams stables at Toowoomba and has now won three of five outings.

At two he won both his race starts, appearances at the Gold Coast and Toowoomba, and also three trials at Gatton, one by 9.2 lengths and another by 6.3 lengths.

Prepared at Ballina on the far north New South Wales coast by Colin Parker for Sonya Wheelahan after being purchased for $34,000 out of the Clear Mountain Fairview draft at the Gold Coast yearling sales, Zahite had won both his outings prior to his second at Doomben last Saturday.

He was always in control when he won at Grafton on debut on February 2 and then scored well at Lismore a month later.

Also sire of the Brisbane juvenile winner Limerence and from overseas use of winners in England, France, Italy and Germany, Zaha is by one of the most highly regarded Mr. Prospector sires, Kingmambo.

He has had more than 70 stakes winners, earners of more than $75 million and a yearling sell for $11.7 million.

Zaha comes from an immediate family that has consistently produced good winners.

He is a three-quarter brother to Seeking Daylight (four wins to Group 2 level from seven starts in America, successful by margins of 8.3 lengths twice; at stud at the Maryland Stallion Station) and a half-brother to Group1 Santa Anita Oaks winner Hedonist.

They are all from Play all Day, a very smart Canadian two-year-old who at this age won three races, including a Group 3 event, and Group 1 second placed.

Her dam, Group 3 placed Playful Spirit, is a half-sister to four stakes winners, two of whom won Group1 events. One of these, Isvestia, won 11 races and the honour of being named Canadian Horse of the Year.

Playful Spirit's dam, the unraced Shy Spirit, was Canadian Broodmare of the Year in 1990 and her half-sister Passing Mood gained this distinction in 1989.

Passing Mood's foals included the good sires With Approval (Canadian Horse of the Year, 13 wins, $2.8million) and Touch Gold (won New York's classic Belmont Stakes).

CLEAR MOUNTAIN FAIRVIEW HOOFNOTE: Zaha continued to excel in the sunshine state with La Zaha (3F Zaha – Ornament) dominating the field in the three-year-old QTIS Added Stakes Maiden Plate 1100 meters to secure the winners purse at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Trained by Gold Coast trainer Debbie Newham and with Scott Galloway in the saddle, the three dollar thirty favourite took a sit on the rail and bustled through the field, finishing strongly.

The final margins of the race were a length to second and third consecutively.

La Zaha will now head to Ipswich again next Wednesday for the Class 1 Fillies and Mares Handicap 1200 meters to re-produce another dominating run.