Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar had not one, but two impressive debut winners on Wednesday with Saturn Star at Rosehill joined by an ultra-impressive filly at Cranbourne.
Trained by Phillip Stokes, three year-old filly Climbing Star was a short priced favourite for the 1200m maiden and showed an impressive change of gear for Zac Spain to accelerate clear of her rivals and win by nearly two lengths.
A $600,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Phillip Stokes Racing Pty Ltd / Rick Connolly Bloodstock from the Widden Stud draft, Climbing Star runs for a syndicate headed by Qatar Bloodstock, who also bred the filly.
"She's very special, she cost us a lot of money out of Sydney Easter," said Stokes, who also has a share in her ownership along with other stable clients.
"They (the owners) have been very patient and she will reward them. She's going to be better over further but that was a very dominant first-up win and I couldn't be happier."
Climbing Star is likely to progress to a fillies race on Caulfield Cup day, however Stokes is in no hurry with the daughter of Zoustar and harbors serious Black Type goals for the autumn.
Climbing Star is a half-sister to dual Group III winner Sansom and is the fourth winner from Fastnet Rock mare Bryony, a sister to Group I winner Heroic Valour and three-quarter sister to Group I winner Triple Honour.
The Zoustar x Fastnet Rock nick is becoming more and more successful with 21 winners from 27 runners highlighted by two stakes-winners including Zougotcha, who runs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday.
