Australia’s most outstanding three-year-old Zoustar gave his new connections a thrill when he scored a brilliant win in Saturday’s Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.
One of two Group One winners on the card for premier Sydney horseman Chris Waller, Zoustar came from last with a sustained sprint up the famous Flemington straight to win by a widening two length margin.
Having now firmly established himself as Australia’s best three-year-old and the country’s hottest and most exciting galloper, Zoustar could be headed abroad with a tilt at next year’s Royal Ascot Carnival a strong possibility.
The win was a triumph for jockey Jim Cassidy, his 100th win at racing’s elite level, making him just the third champion rider in Australia to do so.
Zoustar was sent out a warm favourite after winning the Group One Golden Rose two starts back and a breathtaking Group Two victory, also in Sydney, at his most recent outing.
Connections weren’t concerned when he finished off the pace in a recent Flemington jumpout, saving his best for game day to score another sizzling victory.
“He has got the crown of being the best three-year-old in the country and he defended it in the straight,” a delighted Waller said after the race.
“He is the most professional horse on the track with looks and speed. He is just a superstar.”
After joining Roy Higgins and George Moore in the 100 club of Group One wins, Cassidy described Zoustar as a “machine.”
“He can go anything this colt,” Cassidy said. “I have ridden some nice colts in 30 years, but he is a deadset star!”
The win was the third straight success for the explosive son of Northern Meteor who was was bred in Queensland and sold twice by Magic Millions before arriving in Waller’s Sydney stable.
The Coolmore Stud Stakes win, his second at Group One level, sent his earnings past $1.4 million and gave his new connections a perfect result after a multi million dollar was clinched late in the week.
The deal was struck by the Iskader Racing group, who purchased Zoustar for $140,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Widden Stud, one of the country’s most historic and successful breeding operations.
Zoustar was bred in Queensland by well known breeder and high ranking administrator Kevin Dixon, under his Racetree banner, and sold to KP Thoroughbreds for $85,000 at the 2011 National Yearling Sale.
Chloe Latif and Rhys Smith purchased Zoustar as a weanling and prepared him from their Blandford property of Kulani Park before offering him as a yearling on the Gold Coast about seven months later.
He is by former star young Widden Stud based sire Northern Meteor (Encosta de Lago) and is from a winning daughter of champion Arrowfield Stud based sire Redoute’s Choice.
Zoustar’s dam Zouzou is a half sister to the group placed seven time winner Crestfallen as well as the dam of Melbourne based Group Two winner Dusty Star.
Zoustar follows a long line of recent Magic Millions graduates who starred on the track and headed to stud in deals that valued each colt at many millions of dollars each.
The list includes Sebring, Stratum, Pierro, Casino Prince, Testa Rossa, General Nediym, All American, Savabeel, Delago Deluxe, Snitzel, Shocking and Not a Single Doubt.
The chance to buy Australia’s next multi-million dollar stallion prospect will come when the 2014 Gold Coast Yearling Sale is held from January 8.
Winner: Zoustar
Breeding: Northern Meteor-Zouzou (Redoute’s Choice)
Race: VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes G1 (1200m)
Sold for: $85,000
Sale: 2011 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Racetree
Buyer: KP Thoroughbreds
Sold for: $140,000
Sale: 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Kulani Park (As Agent)
Buyer: Iskander Racing
Earnings: $1,406,680
Owner(s): Iskander.com (Mgr: SR Iskander), Ms JL Leslie, NJ Bearman, S Hedge, SR Ellis, AP McGuinness, JR Pritchard, J Holloway, JM Mahoney, Miss CV Mathews, JL Ellis & EJ Hughes
Trainer: Chris Waller (Rosehill)
