First Australian Winner for Zarak

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday July 2

On a day when Aga Khan Studs announced their champion sire Siyouni would be available for Southern Hemisphere covers another of their up and coming sires Zarak, posted his first Australian winner and he saluted in some very well known colours.

Zaphod opens his account at his first Australian start - image Scone Race Club Twitter

Australian Bloodstock are very good at sniffing out under the radar tried horses from Europe as well as some obvious high profile ones like Gold Trip (Fr) and they featured with a lightly raced maiden winner at Scone on Tuesday when the Kris Lees trained three year-old Zaphod (IRE) won his first start in Australia over 1700m.

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He started twice in Ireland last year for a debut win at Tipperary and then was third in the Group III Eyrefield Stakes (1m1f) behind a couple of Aidan O’Brien trained colts before finding his way to Australia.

He enjoyed the heavy track at Scone and forged clear at the finish in the manner of a horse likely to win a lot more staying races in this country.

Zaphod is the second winner from Pocket of Stars, a placed half-sister by Sea the Stars to Group I winner Silver Frost and Group II winner Spiritjim.

By champion sire Dubawi from champion racemare Zarkava, Group I winning Zarak is very much a young sire on the rise in Europe with his fee this year climbing to €60,000. With his oldest progeny just turned five, he has sired 20 SW’s including this year’s French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan and runs at 10% SW to runner.

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Race Result - Temperature Control Central Coast Plate (C1) 1700m

Scone Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:45.03
1
Zaphod
- 3g Zarak (FR) x Pocket Of Stars (IRE) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 57.5
2
2.5
Pier Pressure
- 3f Press Statement (AUS) x Perissa (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Gibbons 55.5
3
6.6
Fernao
- 5g Frankel (GB) x Macheera (IRE) (Machiavellian (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: A B Collett 59
4
9.9
Bob
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Bobine (USA) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: Ms K Gavenlock Rdr: Mitchell Bell 59
5
10.1
Flyball
- 3g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Tragic Moment (USA) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: S Farley Rdr: Mitch Stapleford 54.5
6
12.8
Arpels
- 4m Dundeel (NZ) x Simply Brilliant (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: R P Northam Rdr: Reece Jones 57
7
14.2
Uninsurabal
- 6m Al Maher (AUS) x Crash'm (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Ms K Owen Rdr: Madeline Owen 52
8
36.5
Carry On Flying
- 5g Flying Artie (AUS) x Carry On Cutie (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Luke A Thomas Rdr: J Pracey-Holmes 59
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