Appearing for the first time since finishing third on debut at Cranbourne in April, the 3-year-old Zousain gelding Viasain gave his elders a hiding in the Global Turf Maiden Plate (1100m) on the Ballarat Synthetic on Friday.
Making full use of the inside barrier, Jamie Mott had the John McArdle-trained gelding controlling the race from the front.
After turning back the challenge of Royal Trapeze on the turn, Viasain kept up a strong gallop to defeat the 4-year-old Overshare gelding Alvin by three lengths with the 4-year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Bossy Star back in third.
“He’s like a 16-year-old kid, all legs and not many brains,” McArdle revealed.
“When that horse came up to put pressure on him, he did not know what he is doing. Then, when in front, he wanted to wait for the other horses.
“Jamie did the right thing by keeping him going to the line. He will improve sharply in fitness and race manners.
He is bred to get over more ground. I don’t think he is the sought of horse to take straight to a lot better level. We will take him through his grades and let him learn. It comes pretty easy to him, and he has a massive stride.”
A $16,000 purchase for Redgum Racing from the Widden Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Viasain is the second winner from four to race for the Group III-placed Stratum mare Via Laurentina.
A $65,000 purchase for Widden Stud at the 2016 National Broodmare Sale, Via Laurentina hails from the family of Derby winner Johnny Get Angry and Markham.
The daughter of Stratum has a yearling filly by Portland Sky and was not served last spring.
Zousain is coming off a successful first season. His ten winners equalled Tassort, with only Too Darn Hot (12) ahead of him. The son of Zoustar stands for $27,500 at Widden Stud this spring.
