The Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington provided a thrilling start to Cup Day when $1million Zoustar colt Brereton scored a tenacious victory over Godolphin’s blue-blood Exceed and Excel colt Renosu.
The two colts finished second and third on debut in the Listed MRC Debutant Stakes last month and that valuable race experience stood them in good stead for this assignment.
The Peter Moody trained Brereton raced on the pace for Luke Nolen and was actually headed by strong finishing Renosu with 50m to run, but he fought back with great determination to snatch a half head win.
The victory was a massive boost for Rosemont Stud and the Victorian Stallion Alliance, who invested heavily in quality colts at the yearling sales earlier this year with Brereton bought from the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions for $1million..
“Congratulations to Rosemont and the Victorian Stallion Alliance as they have sourced some great colts with the goal of developing stallions of the future for Victoria,” said Peter Moody.
As a stakes-winning two year-old by champion sire Zoustar, Brereton is headed in the right direction to fulfil that goal.
“He was bought to make a stallion and has a great temperament, said Luke Nolen.
“He was never really comfortable racing on the straight, but knuckled down to his task well and showed plenty of tenacity.”
Bred by Widden in partnership with Michael Christian’s Saconi Thoroughbreds, Brereton is the third winner from three foals to race from Group III winning Red Ransom (USA) mare Fuddle Dee Duddle, a half-sister to Group II winner Hallowell Belle and to the dam of Group III winner and Group I placed Bella Nipotina.
His grand-dam is a sister to Group I Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing and his third dam is by Rory’s Jester, so there is plenty of quality and diversity to his pedigree.
Fuddle Dee Duddle went through the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale where she was bought by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) / Longwood Thoroughbred Farm for $230,000. She has a yearling colt by Trapeze Artist and produced a filly foal this spring by Brereton’s sire Zoustar and is back in foal to him again.
Brereton is the 25th stakes-winner for Zoustar, who stands at Widden Stud at a fee of $154,000.