A $270,000 Magic Millions purchase from Widden Stud, progressive sprinter Zealously landed his first stakes success on Saturday when taking out the Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m).
Trained by Peter Snowden, the four year-old gelding by Harry Angel (IRE) has made steady progress through his grades and was first up from a spell following a trip to the Gold Coast in January for a sixth in the $1million Magic Millions Snippets.
Tuned up with a couple of recent trials and given a positive ride by Tom Sherry, Zealously kicked away to win by a length and a half taking his overall record to six wins and five placings from 17 starts with prizemoney topping $680,000.
"He is a good fresh horse," Snowden said.
"I was hoping it would be a dry track actually and then after watching the first few races I thought, he doesn't want it any wetter than that.
"He travelled really well, had a couple of soft sectionals there and kicked really strongly late so it was good."
Bred by the Vieira Group and foaled and raised at Widden, Zealously was purchased by Snowden Racing/William Johnson Bloodstock as a yearling and is the first foal of Duenna, a winning half-sister by Sepoy to Group III placed Almanzora from stakes-winner Palomares.
Duenna was on-sold through Inglis Digital in late 2024 for $60,000 and produced a filly by Trapeze Artist for her new owners last spring.
Zealously is the 22nd stakes-winner for Harry Angle (IRE), whose fee has been increased at Darley this spring to $88,000.
