Zoustar filly Zougotcha has been the find of the spring carnival emerging from a winter break as a maiden winner and progressing at Randwick on Saturday to down the best fillies in the land by winning the Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Patiently handled by Chris Waller, Zougotcha had just three starts at two before resuming from a spell to win the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) beating subsequent Golden Rose runner up In Secret.
She upped the ante next winning the Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and came to the Flight in hot form with James McDonald to ride.
Zougotcha powered to the line up the inside fence to score a commanding two length victory over Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner She’s Extreme with another Zoustar filly North Star Lass a gallant third ahead of Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.
“She’s gone from one level to the next with each run and I was a little concerned about how strong she would be today at the mile, but she was just as strong as in each of the other two races,” said Chris Waller, who also trained her sire Zoustar.
“She’s by Zoustar, who is a really good stallion and now we’re seeing that in the Northern Hemisphere as well.
“Guy Mulcaster picked her out and said we should buy her and then she’s just simmered along since then… good horses make you look good.”
A $500,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Widden Stud draft for Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock, Zougotcha runs for a syndicate of stable clients with her breeders Widden Stud and Robert Anderson retaining an interest.
Zougotcha has four wins and a second from six starts with prizemoney just shy of $800,000 and is likely to spell now with a view to the autumn.
Zougotcha is a full sister to stakes-winner Persuader and half-sister to stakes-winner The Actuary being the fourth winner from stakes-placed Fast Talker, a half-sister by Fastnet Rock to stakes-winner Crystal Dreamer.
Fast Talker comes from the family of Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily and was covered last year by Written Tycoon, but has not had a foal since Zougotcha.
Zougotcha is the fifth Group I winner for Zoustar, who stands at Widden Stud at a fee of $198,000 and earlier in the day sired Platinum Jubilee to win the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes. Read about her here.
Zoustar fillies have won all four legs of the Princess Series with Zougotcha winning three of them and North Star Lass successful in the Group II ATC Furious Stakes.
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