News - ZOUSTAR (AUS)
The four day Flemington Cup Carnival has been a showcase for expensive seven figure yearling purchases with G1 victories for The Next Episode ($2.8m) and Autumn Glow ($1.8m), plus a G3 victory for Lady Catalina ($1.8m) and on Saturday we very nearly saw $2.2m Zoustar mare Plaintiff add her name to the list.
The $160,000 ATC Kirkham Plate (1000m) does not carry Black Type, but the race is often a good guide to the $1million Listed ATC Golden Gift next month and a very competitive field lined up at Randwick on Saturday with Chris Waller producing the quinella.
Australia’s reigning champion sprinter Joliestar will get her third crack at an Everest next week with Chris Waller Racing announcing the six year-old Zoustar mare as their contender for this year’s race.
With eight of nine races on the program at Caulfield on Sunday being stakes races it’s been a star studded day and the finale came with the Listed MVRC Testa Rossa Stakes (1440m) won by long short Regal Zeus, who led all the way to win.
With Everest talk filling social media and traditional air waves at present it’s only fitting that the 2024 Everest winner should get a piece of the action with Longwood Thoroughbred Farm announcing Bella Nipotina has safely produced her first foal.
An impressive debut win at Geelong for a blueblood Zoustar filly trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman was always going to warrant further investigation on an otherwise quiet Friday.
Champion sire Zoustar has produced some outstanding fillies and mares with the Cambridge Stud owned Joliestar the best of them all and her achievements over the past 12 months were recognised on Thursday night when she was crowned both Australian Champion Sprinter and New South Wales Champion Sprinter at the 2025/26 Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards.
King of Gosford won the Group I Santa Anita Shoemaker Mile last year and was back in the winning groove at Del Mar on Saturday night when taking out the $300,000 Group II Del Mar Mile (1m) in a thrilling finish.
Today’s Inglis Digital July (Late) sale-topper Arctic Glamour is set for a date with Zoustar this spring after selling to Julia Ritchie and Widden Stud for $640,000.
With four days of racing left in this season the battle to be leading sire by winners is going down to the wire with Capitalist and Zoustar tied on 168 winners and Toronado (IRE) two behind on 166, so let’s take a look at their runners to come.
The Bjorn Baker stable were hoping to win the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden at the Gold Coast back in January with talented Zoustar gelding Zoufame and while they came up short that day running third, he did get the cash in the $100,000 Super Maiden (1100m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Reigning champion sire Zoustar is better known for his sprinters, but Chris and Corey Munce have done a great job in maximizing the potential of his progressive four year-old gelding Kaluakoi, who led all the way to win the $250,000 Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay have fond memories of Royal Ascot, with their shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain carrying their familiar silks to victory in the 2020 edition of the Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m).
Talented Zoustar mare She’s Got Pizzazz is enjoying her working holiday in the Queensland winter sunshine and captured her biggest win to date when taking out the $300,000 Group II BRC Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Reigning champion sire Zoustar had four winners around Australia on Saturday including his new stakes-winner Hearcomesthestar and blueblood mare Silver Wedding, who promises to become a stakes-winner.
Cambridge Stud mare Joliestar got the green tick of approval from trainer Chris Waller following her 900m jump out win at Flemington on Friday, her final public appearance before she begins her marathon journey to England next week ahead of competing at Royal Ascot.
Speedy Capitalist filly Memo is no stranger to the Magic Millions sale ring having been purchased at the Gold Coast as a yearling by Snowden Racing for $350,000 and she sold at the MM National Broodmare Sale on Tuesday for $1.1million.
With form behind narrow G1 Goodwood runner-up Extragalactic, 4yo Zoustar mare Electric Star has flourished since joining the Lyn Tolson and Leonie Proctor yard, going two from two with a fighting win at Caulfield on Wednesday.
Talented Zoustar mare She’s Got Pizzazz burst back to top form at the Gold Coast on Saturday winning the Listed Silk Stocking (1400m).
Retired to Riverstone Stud in the Hunter Valley last spring where he covered 102 mares, Starlust (GB) covered 102 mares at a fee of $27,500, but the Group I winning son of Zoustar has been returned to training in the UK.