The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Military Zone turned a competitive looking $150,000 Listed Gosford Guineas into a rout and if there was anyone cheering louder than the owners of the Triple Crown colour-bearer it the team at Two Bays Farm who will offer his half-brother by Kermadec at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Backed ass if unbeatable, Military Zone was run off his legs in the early stages as the speedsters Rosina Kojonup and Tell Me cut out the running with the chasing pack off the bit.
When James McDonald switched Military Zone to the centre of the track, the son of Epaulette put the race to bed in a matter of strides to defeat by Terminology (Star Witness) by a length and a half with Tell Me (Choisir) a further length back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
A winner at Newcastle and Randwick at his last preparation, Military Zone was not disgraced when sixth in the Group III Up And Coming Stakes at Randwick on August 18.
With his first stakes win, Military Zone advances his record to 3 wins from 6 starts with earnings of $207,380.
"That was a ten out of ten ride by James. He has never ridden him before and he's got his little quirks, but this time in, first up, he relaxed well and hit the line. He got good cover and finished off great," Paul Snowden told Sky Racing.
"He has always shown black-type ability and hopefully there is more to come. He's very lightly raced and inexperienced so it was good to see him get the job done today."
Purchased by Paul Willets for $140,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Military Zone made the same amount when Triple Crown Syndications sourced him out of the Three Bridges draft at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Bred by Two Bays Farm, Military Zone is a three-quarter brother to Happy Forever, a stakes-winner in Macau.
He is the second foal of the Street Sense (USA) mare Loading Zone who is a half-sister to the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet winner Super Lacuna (Grand Lodge) and to Randwick winner Double Ranga the dam of Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Scarlett Rain (Manhattan Rain).
Purchased for just $8,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Loading Zone has a yearling colt by Kermadec, which is heading to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and she foaled a filly by Manhattan Rain on October 20.
Military Zone becomes the fourth stakes-winner from the first crop of Epaulette following the South African Group 1 winner Soqrat and the Group III winners Meryl and Khulaasa.
After covering 95 mares at a fee of $22,000 last season, Epaulette (Commands) earned an increase to $27,500 at Darley Stud this spring.
