Military Zone Continues Epaulette's Hot Run

Mark Smith - Saturday August 4

The first crop sires of 2017/18 may not have started the season with the same high expectations as some of the boom stallions of recent years however no less than eight sired stakes-winners - a total that has rarely been matched in modern times.

One of those stallions was Darley Stud's Epaulette. The striking son of Commands had a pair of Group III winners in Australia, the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes winner Khulaasa and the B.J. McLachlan Stakes winner Beryl. He topped off a highly successful first season when Soqrat captured the Group I Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville in South Africa.

Epaulette has continued that fine run in the first week of the new season.


The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Military Zone came with a barnstorming finish to edge out the favourite Danawi in a benchmark 70 over 1200 metres at Randwick.

A last start winner over 1200 metres at Newcastle, Military Zone was settled back last by Kerrin McEvoy.

Sticking close to the rails he had only passed a couple when making the turn for home then had nowhere to go when running on to heels.

Switched out to find some clear air, the Triple Crown colour-bearer set out after the brave Danawi who was showing no signs of stopping.

Military Zone defeated Danawi (Exceed And Excel) by a nose with Onthetake (Krupt) a length back in third. (photos Steve Hart)

"That was a nice win," McEvoy said.

"We ended up getting a nice suck along. He showed a really nice turn of foot and is on the improve, that's for sure."

Purchased by Paul Willets for $140,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Military Zone made the same amount when Triple Crown Syndications sourced him out of the Three Bridges draft at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Bred by Two Bays Farm, Military Zone is a three-quarter brother to Happy Forever, a stakes-winner in Macau.

He is the second foal of the Street Sense (USA) mare Loading Zone who is a half-sister to the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet winner Super Lacuna (Grand Lodge) and to Randwick winner Double Ranga the dam of Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Scarlett Rain (Manhattan Rain).

Loading Zone has a yearling colt by Kermadec and was covered by Manhattan Rain last spring.

After covering 95 mares at a fee of $22,000 last season, Epaulette has earned an increase to $27,500 at Darley Stud this spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Third G1 Win for Star Savabeel Mare Atishu
A year after flying home for second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Go Racing’s pin-up girl Atishu(NZ) (Savabeel) returned to Flemington on Saturday and went one better for the Kiwi syndicators.
Fawkner Park Back to Winning Ways in G3 Rosehill Gold Cup
Since winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup in March, Fawkner Park has undergone an amazing transformation.
Bravo Centurion - How Good is He?
Ridden by Chris Parnham for Luke Fernie, Bravo Centurion stretched his winning run to six, making every post a winner to defeat Saloon Bar (Sessions) by a long three and three-quarter lengths with Crippalenko (Maschino) a half-length back in third.
Switzerland Wins the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for Coolmore
After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.
Invincible Mares Quinella G3 Furphy Sprint
The first foal of triple Group I winning mare Shoals, blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.
Bella Now Second Highest Ever Australian Stakes Earner
Seven year-old Pride of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina bounced out of her Everest win two weeks ago to claim another lucrative prize when scoring a scintillating victory in the $3million ATC Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
William Haggas Trained Lake Forest Triumphs in Golden Eagle
William Haggas is playing his part in keeping the UK economy afloat, taking home a further $5,250,000 after Lake Forest (GB) won an action-packed James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The all important barrier draw for the world’s richest handicap, the $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been held for a field which contains horses bred in seven countries and trained in four.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.