Zabene, winner of the Dunedin Cup on Saturday, is at $31 in fixed-dividend betting for the $1 million Auckland Cup on March 10.
Zabene followed up his win in the Dunedin Cup Trial at Riccarton with a stout staying performance over 2400m on Saturday in the hands of 18-year-old Pukekohe apprentice Jason Collett.
Zabene shared the lead at the 800m after being forced three-wide and stayed on to win by a neck from the strong-finishing Biman with a length to Turn The Page, who came home well.
Sea Swift won the 1988 Auckland Cup after success in the Dunedin Cup the previous year.
Zabene was at $41 for the Auckland Cup before his win on Saturday.
My Scotsgrey and Passchendaele share favouritism for the Auckland Cup at $5.
Champagne Ransom, upset winner of the Dunedin Guineas on Saturday, is described as a "funny horse" by his Riccarton trainer Shane Kennedy.
"He is a funny horse.
He has got to work hard in a race and be ridden hard," Kennedy said.
Jason Laking, who rode Champagne Ransom, agreed.
"He was a hard ride and I thought I had been beaten in the last stride."
Champagne Ransom, who raced handy, held on by a nose from Our Bee Jay, who finished strongly from four back on the inner.
The Beekeeper ran on late for third, a neck back.
She was slow away and held up in the run home.
The favourite, Chaparella, ran on from second last for fifth.
Champagne Ransom is co-owned by Kennedy with Greg Tomlinson and Louis Vieceli, of Christchurch.
The Red Ransom gelding was $60,000 purchase at the Melbourne premier yearling sale.
Jamie Bullard was suspended until midnight on March 4 on two separate charges of careless riding at Wingatui on Saturday.
Lance Robinson and Robert Hannam were also suspended for careless riding.
Bullard was suspended until February 20 after he admitted allowing Al Maaha to shift out near the 150m in the Dunedin Guineas, hampering Chaparella and The Beekeeper.
His suspension was extended after he admitted allowing Hold It Harvey to shift out at the 350m in the White Robe Lodge Handicap, causing checks to Coup Bloomsbury and Aussieaussieaussie.
Bullard was also fined $750 on the second charge.
Robinson was suspended until midnight on February 19 after he admitted allowing Ace Of Diamonds to shift out at the 300m, causing a check to Bring It On in race 3.
Hannam was suspended from next Monday until the following Saturday inclusive.
He admitted allowing Shuttleworth to shift in at the 1000m in the Dunedin Guineas, checking The Beekeeper.
