Zoustar Sprinter Claims $1.5million G3 Gold Rush

The big money races keep coming in Western Australia with the $1.5million Group III WATC Gold Rush (1400m) won by Victorian raider The Astrologist, a six year-old gelding by Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar.

Trained by Leon and Troy Corstens, The Astrologist had not been in the winner’s circle since taking out the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Stakes in August 2021, but his form since has been very consistent in elite races.

Second in the Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap earlier this year, he was sixth in the Group I VRC Darley Sprint Classic before heading to the west and was eighth at his first run in Perth in the Group I WATC Winterbottom Stakes.

The Astrologist continued the recent run of success for interstate visitors when he scored a thrilling head win over the locally trained favourite Kissonallfourcheeks for Willie Pike.

It was a return to form for Pike, who has returned home to WA for the summer.

“I have been lacking a bit of that over the carnival. Maybe that is just sour grapes because I haven’t been winning as many as I want,” Pike said.

“That was what I was keen to do. I didn’t want any hard luck stories – he is a wind up horse. That is his asset so I wanted to use it. He kicked off the bend really well and I knew I was in with a great sight there but just that last 50m I was hoping the line would hurry up and get there.

“Every time they came he found. I actually think he just did enough to keep in front. When that horse came up around me early I think that just kept him interested so everything fell into place for him. He was more settled today than he was last start. I don’t know whether anything changed, he just settled in a little more, but last start he was just a bit fizzy behind the gates and he wasn’t quite that same dude as he was at trackwork. Today he did everything perfect.”

A $150,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Goodwood Farm draft for Bennett Racing/McEvoy Mitchell Racing P/L, The Astrologist started his career with Tony and Calvin McEvoy.

He’s been a terrific campaigner with the overall record of eight wins and 12 placings from 33 starts with prizemoney of $2.1million.

Bred by Rangal Park Stud in Victoria, The Astrologist is the best of three winners from Aquada, a placed Flying Spur daughter of stakes-winner Freestyle.

Aquada  was sold as part of the Rangal Park Dispersal picked up by Kooringal Stud for $30,000 from the 2021 Inglis Digital January (late) Sale.

The Astrologist is the fifth stakes-winner this season for Zoustar and all of them are Group winners headed by his outstanding three year-old filly Zougotcha, winner of the Darley Princess Series.