Widden Stud's champion sire Zoustar had the Champion European 2YO Filly last year in Lezoo and has another exciting filly this year with Miaharris making it two wins in as many starts when taking out the Listed St Hugh’s Stakes (5f) at Newbury overnight.
Trained by Owen Burrows, Miaharris was super impressive winning her debut at Sandown last month and went to the post favourite, but after being slowly away found herself at the tail of the field and facing a considerable task. Her rider Oisin Murphy had to work hard to get her into the clear, but when she saw daylight Miaharris hit the line hard to snatch a thrilling head win.
“We took a punt as Miaharris has run only once. She was inexperienced early on and wasn't as quick into her stride as we'd have liked, but - as Oisin said – ‘you didn't want to rev her up too much or set her alight’. She hit the line strong and probably wants six,” said Owen Burrows.
“There's the Dick Poole (G3) and she's not in the Cheveley Park (G1), although I considered it and it's encouraging she handled that bit of cut. We were pleased she'd come forward from Sandown and I think she'll always be a sprinter, while she's got a touch of class - she's pretty smart.”
Miaharris made €60,000 as a yearling at Goffs Orby, but quickly showed she could run and made 210,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale when bought by Durcan Bloodstock.
Miaharris is a half-sister to stakes-winner Time Scale and Group II placed Bletchley and is the seventh winner from eight to race from stakes-winning Holy Roman Emperor mare An Ghalanta.
She is the 39th stakes-winner and second in the Northern Hemisphere for Zoustar, who had a running double at Newbury with three year-old filly Zouky winning her third race from six starts when successful over 7f.
Zoustar enjoyed super success in Australia last season siring 186 winners of over $16million and his Group I winning filly Zougotcha is set to resume at Rosehill today in the Group III ATC Toy Show Quality.
