The colours of the Rosemont Stallion Alliance were carried to victory on Saturday in the Group III $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) with expensive Zoustar colt Schwarz showing his class to score a decisive win.
Trained by John O’Shea and ridden by James McDonald, Schwarz was sent out to control the race and did so with a minimum of fuss. He travelled smoothly in the lead and gave a good kick when required to dash away and win by a couple of lengths.
“He behaved himself beautifully and is maturing all the time,” said James McDonald.
“He’s a beautiful colt and has got the best action, he really glides across the ground. He’s got a great turn of foot and a high cruising speed so has got a lot going for him.”
With three wins from six starts and prizemoney topping $330,000, Schwarz is on the improve with better wins in store and the Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap on June 15 is looming on the horizon.
“We were inclined to take bad luck out of the equation today and absolutely trust him emphatically, he’s just a top class animal and he showed that today,” said John O’Shea.
“He gave nothing else a chance and was strong through the line.
“He’s right on track for where we wanted him to be which is the Stradbroke (G1) in about a month’s time. He’ll go to the Fred Best (G3) in three weeks and from there hopefully make his way into the Stradbroke.”
Last year Hawaii Five Oh followed a similar path winning at Hawkesbury and then the Fred Best before finishing a close third in the Stradbroke behind Think About It.
A $1.25million Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft for Rosemont-Victorian Alliance/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/David Redvers Bloodstock, Schwarz was bred by Widden in partnership.
He is the first living foal of Group II winning Not a Single Doubt mare Summer Sham, who traces back to blue hen Shantha’s Choice, the dam of Group I winners Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors. Schwarz has an intriguing pedigree with three lines 4 x 4 x 4 of Shantha’s Choice.
Summer Sham is married to Zoustar and her two year-old filly by him sold for $800,000 at Inglis Easter last year to Cambridge Stud and her Zoustar yearling colt made $1.55million this year when purchased by China Horse Club / Newgate / Go Bloodstock / Trilogy.
Summer Sham produced another colt by Zoustar last year and is back in foal to him again.
