Group Two Double for Zoustar

Champion trainer Chris Waller has a knack for cuddling talented mares and one of them is Haut Brion Her, who resumed from a spell to win the Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday bringing up a two state Group II double for her sire Zoustar, who was successful earlier in the day with Zoutori at Flemington.

Haut Brion Her finished her last preparation winning the Group II VRC Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington in October last year and was quick to pick up where she left off despite the break of 49 weeks.

She raced on the pace for James McDonald and scored a three-quarter length win over the big field of 16 mares.

At this time of year every horse that wins a sprint in Sydney is a possible for The Everest and Chris Waller believes Haut Brion Her would not be out of her depth in The Everest.

“Where she fits into The Everest picture I’m not sure. We might as well get them talking,” Waller said.

“She had to do it hard early and still showed a great turn of foot and was able to maintain that momentum all the way to the finish in a good field.”

Retained to race by her breeders who include Peter Liston of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Haut Brion Her has been handled patiently by Waller and allowed to make way quietly through the restricted grades.

Haut Brion Her has the impressive record of six wins and three placings from nine starts with prizemoney topping $500,000.

A half-sister to Group III winner Karacatis and stakes-winner Shamillion, Haut Brion Her is the third stakes-winner for terrific producer One in a Million, a Group II placed daughter of Redoute’s Choice.

One in a Million died last year and Haut Brion Her is her final foal.

Haut Brion Her is one of only two stakes-winners to carry a double cross of champion sire Redoute’s Choice and the other, Solar Star, is also by Zoustar.

Slick Zoustar sprinter Zoutori started last spring winning the Group II VRC Bobbie Lewis Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and he repeated the performance again on Saturday.

Prepare by Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Zoutori contested five Group I sprints last season which included a second in the Oakleigh Plate and a fourth in the Newmarket, so a drop back to Group II company was an easier assignment.

Zoutori stuck his nose out in a blanket finish to win the sprint by a half neck taking his overall record to six wins and six placings from 22 starts with prizemoney in excess of $715,000.

“He wasn’t as dominant as last year, but he got the job done so that’s fantastic!” said co-trainer Matt Ellerton.

“This preparation we might try and stretch him out about a bit and step up in distance from here on in with a race like the Cantala (G1) over a mile here a possible target.”

A $160,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Amarina Farm draft for his trainers, Zoutori was bred by Frank Meduri and is the first foal of Atotori, a half-sister by Haradasun to Group III winner Castlethorpe and to the dam of Group II winner Quiet Oasis and Group III winner Young Pretender.

Atotori had a big international pedigree being a grand-daughter of Champion European Two and Three Year Old Filly Park Express, the dam of leading sire and Epsom Derby winner New Approach.

Zoustar will cover another outstanding book of mares this spring at a fee of $121,000.