Ziconic catches the morning sun during schooling at Santa Anita Park, Feb. 15. (All photos courtesy of Cynthia Holt unless noted)

He is the poster boy for the old adage, “breed the best to the best and hope for the best.” His mother is Zenyatta, racing's iconic “dancing queen,” winner of 19 of 20 races, whose fan base has not skipped a beat since her retirement in 2010. His father is Tapit, lord of the breeding shed, leading sire of 2015, who commands a lofty $300,000 stud fee.

His name is Ziconic, and he is the “middle child” of Zenyatta’s three (soon to be four) offspring, sandwiched between Cozmic One (Bernardini), who has yet to break his maiden in two starts, and Z Princess (War Front), an enchanting filly who had beguiled legions of Zenyatta followers before a paddock accident took her life. Ziconic is neither a statuesque dark bay like Zenyatta, nor a luminous gray, like Tapit, although he has inherited his sire’s compact, muscular body. The two star players have produced a glowing chestnut whose coat seems to catch fire in the light, a copper sun to Cozmic One’s dark moon.

TAPIT

(Photo courtesy of Gainesway Farm) 

ZENYATTA

BABY ZICONIC WITH AFFECTIONATE MOM

(Image courtesy of zenyatta.com © Tyler Matson)

“The red prince,” as he has been dubbed by his admirers, set off a blaze of commentary on social media last week when trainer John Shirreffs announced that the colt would be making his first start on Feb. 20.  For the countless fans who had worshipped Zenyatta up close and from afar, this was soul-stirring news. For many, just to see a part of the mare they adored on the track is enough. But, because this is above all a sport which collects dreamers as readily as it does cynics, more than a few hearts harbor the hope that maybe, just maybe, this might be the chance to grab a piece of a racing god's coattails for one more glorious spin across the dance floor.

Preparing for the Big Day

It was a busy week leading into his first race for Ziconic. He was schooled in the paddock on several occasions, including one during the afternoon while the races were running, so that he could become familiar with the routine and the noise and close proximity of the crowd on race day.

ZICONIC BOWS TOWARD HIS MOTHER'S STATUE

While en route to the saddling barn for his first training session of the week, Ziconic turned towards Zenyatta's statue as he passed, and seemed to bow his head in honor. Coincidence? Of course! Or was it?

TRACING ZENYATTA'S HOOF PRINTS THROUGH THE PADDOCK GARDENS

ZENYATTA IN THE SAME SPOT IN THE GARDENS FOLLOWING SCHOOLING IN MARCH 2010

ALERT AND CURIOUS, ZICONIC EYES PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE SADDLING BARN

WITH MARIO ESPINOZA, ZENYATTA'S FORMER GROOM

MARIO AND ZICONIC HAVE FORMED A VERY SPECIAL BOND

INSTRUCTION FROM THE TEAM, WITH MARIO AND ASSISTANT TRAINER EDDIE CORNIER

PADDOCK LESSONS

SCHOOL IS DISMISSED, BACK TO THE BARN

Race Day!

The skies rained good fortune on Santa Anita Park for Ziconic’s debut, with temperatures in the 70s and a bright sun made to order to capture his burnished coat. The Zenyatta faithful were in attendance, and made their enthusiastic support known. The stage was perfectly set for what everyone hoped would be another golden page in their book of racetrack memories!

FIRST STOP OF THE DAY, THE HORSESHOE INSPECTOR

WELL DONE, ZICONIC!  ON TO THE RECEIVING BARN

OFF TO THE SADDLING BARN WITH MARIO, TRAINER JOHN SHIRREFFS AND CORNIER

THE SADDLING BARN IS A MUCH BUSIER PLACE TODAY THAN IT WAS IN PRACTICE! WITH CARMEN ESPINOZA, CORNIER, SHIRREFFS, AND MARIO

ALL OF THE PRE-RACE EXCITEMENT CAN MAKE A GUY THIRSTY!

 DOTTIE INGORDO-SHIRREFFS, THE MOSSES' RACING MANAGER AND WIFE TO TRAINER JOHN, AND JERRY MOSS, OWNER, AWAIT ZICONIC'S  ARRIVAL

ZICONIC EARNED AN A+ FOR PADDOCK MANNERS, DESPITE ALL OF THE HOOPLA

ON THE TRACK FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A COMPETITOR!

HE WAS THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT ALMOST DID!  ZICONIC WAS 15 LENGTHS BEHIND ON THE BACKSTRETCH, BUT CAME FLYING TO LOSE BY ONLY 1 ¾ LENGTHS!

ZICONIC PASSED THE FIELD IN THE GALLOP OUT 

RETURNING WITH A PLEASED GARY STEVENS, SUBBING FOR MIKE SMITH, WHO WAS SITTING OUT A SUSPENSION

A LITTLE DIRT-SPATTERED, BUT NO WORSE FOR THE WEAR!

SHIRREFFS AND MARIO ARE PROUD OF ZICONIC'S VALIANT EFFORT!  STEVENS LATER REMARKED, "I'VE NEVER BEEN CHEERED FOR FINISHING THIRD IN A MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT BEFORE!"

AS ZICONIC IS LED AWAY, GARY SHARES HIS IMPRESSIONS. HE LATER SAID, "JOHN HAD A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE WHEN I CAME BACK. HE'S A MAN OF FEW WORDS, BUT THAT SMILE SAID IT ALL.''

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH TVG'S BRITNEY EURTON, GARY SAID, "I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE  TO RIDE THE BIG MARE ZENYATTA, BUT NOW I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE."

 

BACK HOME IN THE TRANQUILITY OF HIS BARN, ZICONIC IS COOLED OUT BY CARMEN ESPINOZA

Ziconic was denied a winner’s circle photo on Saturday, but one would never have guessed it from the cheers, applause, and ecstatic smiles emanating from the crowd which had come out in his support. They had seen him lag 15 lengths behind the field on the backstretch, looking hopelessly beaten, only to shift into a gear which perhaps he himself did not know he had until that moment, and take flight in pursuit of his competitors with a determination which awakened echoes of the past. For those who had come hoping to see a spark of brilliance which may someday burst into flame, they did not go away disappointed. In an interview following the race, John Shirreffs summed it up best when he said, "He responded very well. You always have big expectations. You dream. With Zenyatta, we realized the dream. Now you dream about her foals. They bring part of that dream back."