Zoustar 2YO Filly Wins Kirkham Plate

The 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.

Waller saddled the two highest priced runners in I Am Invincible colt Tour de Force and Zoustar filly Exo Velocity and they both improved sharply off soft barrier trials to fight out the finish.

They settled back off the pace and Exo Velocity found a saloon passage up the fence under Kerrin McEvoy to hit the front, while Tour de Force had to duck and weave to find clear running and charged late for Nash Rawiller to grab second ahead of a close up Jenni in Rome with a gap to the rest.

“The run was open, but I was still a few lengths off it,” said winning rider Kerrin McEvoy.

“I was as quiet as a church mouse, I didn’t let that horse know I was coming, so I was hoping it was going to stay open for me.

“She’s got talent, no doubt. You always take note when one of Chris’ come out and win like that first-up because you know they’re not screwed down to anywhere near their bottom.”

Exo Velocity was a $650,000 Magic Millions purchase from Milburn Creek for WallerRacing/Mulcaster Bloodstock and runs for a syndicate of stable clients.

Bred by Iskander Racing, she is the first foal of brilliant stakes-winning juvenile Exo Lady, an Exopshere mare tracing back to fourth dam She’s a Pipe Dream, who was another lightning fast juvenile stakes-winner.

Exo Lady was purchased as a broodmare prospect at the 2023 MM National Broodmare Sale for $400,000 by Suman Hedge Bloodstock and has been married to Zoustar .

She has a yearling filly and filly foal to follow by the champion Widden sire, so a debut victory for Exo Velocity is good news for her little sisters!