The colours of the Rosemont Stallion Alliance were carried to victory at Flemington on Saturday by expensive Zoustar colt Schwarz, who captured the $175,000 Listed VRC Amanda Elliott Stakes (1400m) at his third start.
Trained by John O’Shea and ridden by James McDonald, Schwarz was an impressive debut winner at Gosford last month and was then an unlucky fourth in the Group III MVRC Red Anchors Stakes when he stepped away slowly.
Sent out hot favourite at Flemington, Schwarz did everything right this time and took control of the race before dashing clear to win by a couple of lengths in a dominant display.
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“He was dominant today and this week on radio John O’Shea dubbed him the best horse in his stable after two starts only and I think we all got a glimpse od that today, so it’s very exciting,” he said.
With two wins from three starts and prizemoney topping $140,000, Schwarz will now head to the paddock with autumn goals in mind that could potentially set him up for a lucrative career at stud.
A $1.25million Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft for Rosemont-Victorian Alliance/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/David Redvers Bloodstock, Schwarz was bred by Widden in partnership.
He is the first living foal of Group II winning Not a Single Doubt mare Summer Sham, who traces back to blue hen Shantha’s Choice, the dam of Group I winners Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors. Schwarz has an intriguing pedigree with three lines 4 x 4 x 4 of Shantha’s Choice.
Summer Sham is married to Zoustar and her two year-old filly by him sold for $800,000 at Inglis Easter this year to Cambridge Stud and has been named Silver Wedding. She has a yearling colt to follow and produced another colt this spring, so Widden will be cheering Schwarz on to bigger and better wins next year.
Schwarz is the 45th stakes-winner for Zoustar and is his third at Flemington this week joining Group I winning colt Ozzmosis and Group III winning filly Mumbai Muse.