Zoustar Filly Wins G1 Thousand Guineas
Widden Stud’s flagship sire Zoustar is having an amazing season and it rolled on at Caulfield on Saturday when Joliestar claimed the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas (1600m).
After seconds in the Listed ATC Reginald Allen Quality at Randwick and Listed VRC Desirable Stakes at Flemington, it was the time to shine for Joliestar in her first crack at G1 company.
Ridden by James McDonald for Chris Waller, Joliestar handed another heartbreaking defeat to classy filly Kimochi beating her by one and a half lengths with previously unbeaten Skybird in third place.
She's a ⭐
Another G1 for J-Mac this spring as the daughter of Zoustar takes out the Thousand Guineas 👏@cwallerracing @mcacajamez pic.twitter.com/PjieVKN4yF
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 18, 2023
A $950,000 purchase for Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay from the Segenhoe Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Joliestar advances her record to two wins and three seconds from five starts with earnings of $1,022,725.
Waller has a great record with fillies by Zoustar that include Zougotcha, Madam Rouge, Kiku and Haut Brion Her.
“For a three-year-old filly it’s a pretty long-range plan,” Waller said.
“She’s still only starting her career, but we did identify that she had ability right from the start.
“Cambridge Stud, Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Henry Plumptre, really liked her at the sales. We couldn’t afford her and I got her to train, but it’s been justified in their investments. They’re a great nursery in New Zealand and they spread their wings in Australia each Carnival.
“So to train one for them with James McDonald aboard is pretty cool.
“The progression of good horses is a lot easier than average horses, it’s a simple as that. She’s done it herself. I’ve found the races, she’s turned up. Steven Arnold does a lot of work for us and came and rode her on Tuesday morning and said she got around here well and said she was on the way up. He said she gave him the right feel.”
Bred by Chris Barham, Joliestar is a half-sister to stakes-placed God Of Thunder and Emperor and is the fifth winner from as many to race for the top-class Fastnet Rock mare Jolie Bay.
The Group II ATC Roman Consul Stakes winner and runner-up in the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes, Jolie Bay, is a sister to dual Group I winner Merchant Navy, Listed winner Setanta, and stakes-placed Zara Bay.
Jolie Bay has a 2-year-old sister to Joliestar named Legacy Bay, who will carry the Barham old gold colours for Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman.
Jolie Bay foaled another Zoustar filly on September 6.
Joliestar is the 47th stakes-winner and seventh Group I winner for Widden Stud’s Zoustar.
