Widden Celebrate Zoustar Flemington Success
Purchased by Widden Stud earlier this week, exciting colt Zoustar showed just why he is the hottest stallion prospect in the country when powering up the Flemington straight to win the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes on Saturday.
The Chris Waller trained son of Northern Meteor won the Group I ATC Golden Rose earlier in the spring and was tuned up for this assignment with a last start victory in the Group II ATC Roman Consul Stakes.
Ridden a treat by regular partner Jim Cassidy, Zoustar travelled smoothly out wide throughout and pounced on the leaders over the final furlong to win the 1200 metre sprint by a couple of lengths over progressive up and comers Not Listenin’tome and Lion of Belfort.
The victory provided a memorable milestone for Jim Cassidy, giving the legendary jockey his 100th Group I success.
“He went up the straight like a machine,” said Cassidy, who was quick to thank all the owners and trainers that have supported him over the years and particularly Chris Waller.
“It’s hard to take too much away from Jimmy,” said Waller.
“I feel very privileged to have played a part in his career.”
Cassidy has ridden Zoustar in every start bar one, sticking with the colt from a debut Canterbury win back in April, through the Brisbane Winter Carnival where he won the Group II BRC Sires Produce Stakes and on into the spring where he has emerged a star.
“He’s got the crown for being the best three year-old in the country and now he’s defended it up the straight,” said Waller.
“He’s had to put up with a lot this week in regards to his sale with vet examinations and the like, but he’s the most professional horse.
“He has the looks. He has the speed. He’s a superstar!”
Bred by Racetree and sold as a weanling for $85,000, Zoustar was a $140,000 Magic Millions purchase for Iskander Racing from the Kulani Park draft and has won six of eight starts earning $1.4million in prizemoney.
In winning the Coolmore Stud Stakes, he emulated the performance of his ill-fated sire Northern Meteor, who won the race in 2008 before retiring to Widden Stud and becoming the Champion Australian First Season Sire of 2012/2103.
Zoustar is the first winner for Zou Zou, a winning half-sister by Redoute’s Choice to stakes-placed Crestfallen and to the dam of Group II winner Dusty Star.
Zoustar is the second Group I winner for ill-fated Northern Meteor, who died at the end of July with his final crop of foals being born this spring.