They say ‘some days are diamonds’ and for Zoustar today was one of those days with two new Group II winning 2YO’s Glistening and Lightsaber, a Group I quinella in the VRC Newmarket with Zoutori and Indian Pacific fighting out the finish and then in Sydney, Mizzy missed by a whisker to finish second in the Group I ATC Canterbury Stakes.
Read about Glistening here and Lightsaber here.
Quality sprinter Zoutori has long threatened to win a Group I sprint up the Flemington straight having been fourth in Newmarket last year and fourth in the Group I VRC Darley Sprint back in the spring.
The Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained gelding was only seventh in the Oakleigh Plate when resuming from a spell last month, but has always shown a liking for Flemington and duly produced a career best performance to win by a head over progressive Perth sprinter Indian Pacific.
Ridden by Luke Currie, Zoutori carried top weight of 57kg and lunged on the line to snatch a well -deserved win.
Three year-old Star Witness colt Amish Boy finished third to give Widden Stud sires a Group I trifecta in the prestigious time honoured sprint.
"I don't get too nervous pre-raceday, but I was a little but toey today," Matt Ellerton revealed.
"Things have gone to plan with him from the Oakleigh Plate and he's really come on well.
"He's a good, tough honest sprinter who is a dual Group II winner and now a Group I winner and he's got a great CV especially down the straight."
A $160,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Amarina Farm draft for his trainers, Zoutori has the overall record of eight wins and six placings from 26 starts with prizemoney of $1.7million.
He was bred by Frank Meduri and is the first foal of Atotori, a half-sister by Haradasun to Group III winner Castlethorpe and to the dam of Group II winner Quiet Oasis and Group III winner Young Pretender.
Atotori had a big international pedigree being a grand-daughter of Champion European Two and Three Year Old Filly Park Express, the dam of leading sire and Epsom Derby winner New Approach.
Atotori died last year and her final foal is a yearling filly by Divine Prophet that was sold at Magic Millions earlier this year for $80,000 to Australian Bloodstock/Lees Racing/Tasman Bloodstock.
Zoutori is the second Group I winner for Zoustar , who is currently covering mares at Tweenhills in the UK.
