Widden Stud’s flagship sire Zoustar had another red letter day on Saturday with a Group double at Morphettville when exciting juvenile colt Growing Empire bolted away with the Group III SAJC Breeders Stakes followed later in the day by progressive mare Climbing Star, who tipped out the favourites to score a tenacious win in the $1million SAJC Rober Sangster Stakes (1200m).
Carrying the NZ suffix, despite her Australian pedigree, the Phillip Stokes trained Climbing Star has been a rapid improver in her current preparation and produced a miraculous finish from back in the field to give her young rider Lachlan Neindorf his first G1 win.
After stepping slowly, Climbing Star, settled near last in a strongly run race. The four-year-mare old spotted the leaders in excess of ten lengths and was down on the inner of the track which jockeys had avoided for most of the day.
Neindorf didn’t panic and gambled on a rails run, which he gratefully accepted as the majority of the field rolled out towards the middle of the track.
Climbing Star dashed into contention and narrowly defeated late charging Learning To Fly, who came from last as the deepest of all runners with race favourite Estriella fading to finish fifth.
It was the first success at the highest level for the twenty-two-year-old Neindorf and he was trying to remain calm immediately after the race, although the emotion of the moment was clearly playing out as he accepted congratulations from well-wishers.
“I’m trying to keep it together but it was a really good win,” Neindorf said.
“She stumbled at the start as I wanted to be a lot closer and from that point on, I just went bugger this, let’s go back to the inside and try and ride a race.
“We got the favours and here we are.
“A lot was going through my head and I was just trying to treat it like another race, thinking I’d cut my losses and run home into a place with even luck but this is very special.
“This is for everyone in the Stokes stable and for my family and everyone here.”
Stokes had been cautiously confident in the buildup regarding the chances of both his runners, with Stretan Angel also engaged and felt the outside barrier for Climbing Star might be to her advantage although those thoughts went out the window as the barriers opened.
“I thought the outside barrier may not be as bad the way the track was playing,” he said.
“She has been aimed at this, was third up and going super so we thought she would give a sight.
“When I was watching the race, I was thinking what is happening here as we were meant to be on the outer, but it is just great for Lachie to get the win.
“I’ve got some really good friends in this horse so it is a big thrill.
“She has just come of age and is starting to blossom and she has a big Spring ahead of her.”
A $600,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Widden Stud draft for Phillip Stokes Racing Pty Ltd / Rick Connolly Bloodstock, Climbing Star runs for a syndicate that includes her breeder Qatar Bloodstock and has the overall record of three wins and five seconds from 14 starts with prizemoney topping $827,000.
Foaled in New Zealand, 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.
Bryony had another filly by Zoustar last year and is back in foal to him again after spending several years in New Zealand at Windsor Park Stud going to Charm Spirit (IRE), who was also raced by Qatar Bloodstock.
Climbing Star is the eighth Group I winner for Zoustar and is bred on the Zoustar x Fastnet Rock nick, which is becoming ever more successful.
The stats are 40 winners from 49 runners, so 81% winner to runner and there are six stakes-winners headed now by three G1 winners Zougotcha, Joliestar and Climbing Star making for 12.2% SW to runner.
