breednet.com.au

Zoustar Filly Wins G2 Matamata Breeders Stakes for Cambridge Stud

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 25

The Mark Walker trained blue-blood filly Zourion showed she could have untapped potential with a strong performance to win the Group II J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in New Zealand on Saturday.

Opie Bosson and Zourion cruise home to win the Gr. 2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Matamata Photo: Trish Dunell

The Group Two event is the most sought after prize amongst the Matamata training fraternity and Walker was on top of the world as the daughter of Zoustar rattled home along the inner for rider Opie Bosson to defeat Central Districts raiders Lowe Flying and Pignan.

A first up win over 1100m at Taupo which was preceded by an easy trial win at Tauranga had Zourion tipped as one of the major contenders for the contest and she never gave her supporters cause for concern.

 

Zourion was a $475,000 purchase by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis out of breeder Pencarrow Stud’s draft at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka and is raced by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay,

She is out of the four-race winner Irion, who was stakes placed in the Group II Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and is a daughter of Group II winner Dopff, the dam of stakes performer Octapussy, who in turn the dam of Pussy Willow and Pussy O’Reilly.

Walker admitted he had taken a punt lining up the filly in the race at just her second start, but believed she had the quality to be very competitive.

“She really is a high-class filly and she has it all ahead of her,” Walker said.

“You do have a think about whether you are doing the right thing by tackling a race like this so early in her career, but she is just so tough and thoroughly professional that it seemed well worth it.

“It is great to win a race like his for Brendan and Jo and the whole Cambridge Stud team and I think the best thing about it is that I have no doubt she will be even better as a three-year-old in her next campaign.

“I’m going to sit down and talk with the team but I’m leaning towards maybe spelling her now as she is in for a big season next time in with a number of very winnable races available to her.”

Zourion is the 34th stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Go Racing Win Australian Day Cup with Tajanis
The familiar Go Racing colours were carried to victory at Warwick Farm on Monday by progressive imported stayer Tajanis (IRE), who continued his upward trajectory with a three quarter length win in the $200,000 Listed ATC Australia Day Cup (2400m).
Group Winning Mare Bonny Lass Retired
After a formidable career competing at the highest level, Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall’s star mare Bonny Lass has been retired from racing.
Cambridge Stud Cheer Zoustar 2YO Debut Winner
Mark Walker’s rip-roaring season produced another milestone victory at Taupo on Tuesday when the Te Akau head trainer unveiled a highly regarded juvenile to deliver on debut.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were some interesting juveniles in action at Randwick on Tuesday that featured a couple of heat winners in the James Harron Bloodstock colours and a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) that has designs on the $2million Inglis Millennium on February 8.
$280,000 and $230,000 St Mark’s Basilica Colts
The first crop Southern Hemisphere bred yearlings by St Mark’s Basilica have been making a good impression and he posted a couple of great results during the second session of the NZB National Yearling Sale Book 1 at Karaka on Monday.
Strong Karaka Book 1 for Capitalist
Capitalist had a select group of five yearlings to be offered at the NZB National Yearling Sale Book 1 this week at Karaka and all were sold in the first two sessions to give him 100% clearance and an average of $238,000.
Trainers Reject VJA Dollar Grab
Victorian trainers have rejected the push by the Victorian Jockeys Association (VJA) for jockeys to be paid riding fees for jump outs, instead suggesting that jockeys are pushing a false narrative and have reneged on their original deals to accept other compensation for not being paid for jump outs.
$2.4million Savabeel Filly Delights Barneswood Farm
It was an emotional scene at Karaka on Monday after the regally-bred full-sister to glamour mare Orchestral was sold for $2.4 million.
Sires With Winners - Monday January 27
Here is the full list of 46 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Shalaa 3YO Now A Winner - Half to MM Perth
Somehow it took Shalaa three-year-old Shalaa Gold six starts to win his maiden, although he did face some strong ones, but he was certainly impressive getting the first win up at Warwick Farm on Monday.