Widden Sires Trifecta G1 Newmarket
They say ‘some days are diamonds’ and for Zoustar today was one of those days with two new Group II winning 2YO’s Glistening and Lightsaber, a Group I quinella in the VRC Newmarket with Zoutori and Indian Pacific fighting out the finish and then in Sydney, Mizzy missed by a whisker to finish second in the Group I ATC Canterbury Stakes.
Quality sprinter Zoutori has long threatened to win a Group I sprint up the Flemington straight having been fourth in Newmarket last year and fourth in the Group I VRC Darley Sprint back in the spring.
The Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained gelding was only seventh in the Oakleigh Plate when resuming from a spell last month, but has always shown a liking for Flemington and duly produced a career best performance to win by a head over progressive Perth sprinter Indian Pacific.
Ridden by Luke Currie, Zoutori carried top weight of 57kg and lunged on the line to snatch a well -deserved win.
Three year-old Star Witness colt Amish Boy finished third to give Widden Stud sires a Group I trifecta in the prestigious time honoured sprint.
“I don’t get too nervous pre-raceday, but I was a little but toey today,” Matt Ellerton revealed.
“Things have gone to plan with him from the Oakleigh Plate and he’s really come on well.
“He’s a good, tough honest sprinter who is a dual Group II winner and now a Group I winner and he’s got a great CV especially down the straight.”
A $160,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Amarina Farm draft for his trainers, Zoutori has the overall record of eight wins and six placings from 26 starts with prizemoney of $1.7million.
He 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.
Zoutori is the second Group I winner for Zoustar , who is currently covering mares at Tweenhills in the UK.
