Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes Trifecta for Zoustar

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 3
Widden Stud's exciting young sire Zoustar always looked to have a strong hand in the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday with three top chances and they delivered the dream result with a sensational win for Sunlight, the lone filly in the field over Zousain and Lean Mean Machine.



Winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the Tony McEvoy trained filly was dominant over the colts last season so it wasn't the hardest choice for him to allow Sunlight to take her chance against the colts in this elite sprint worth $1million.

Sunlight - images Grant CourtneyA touch slowly away in the Group I MVRC Manikato Stakes at her previous run when finishing an unlucky seventh, Sunlight bounced back to her brilliant best with regular rider Luke Currie back in the saddle and jumped fast to track the leader Written By as they motored up the straight.

She was strong to the line, seeing off Written By and then holding off challenges from Zousain and Lean Mean Machine to win by half a neck taking her record to eight wins from 12 starts with prizemoney topping $3million.

"She had no favours last start when stepped away slowly and was in an awkward place, but today she flew out," said Luke Currie.

"She was on the buckle all the way and spent no petrol so was strong to the line."

The lone filly in the field !A $300,000 Magic Millions purchase for Aquis/McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Blue Sky Bstock from the Widden Stud draft, Sunlight was bred in partnership by Widden Stud, whose Katie Thompson also shares in her ownership.

Widden Stud had the dream result having a Group I trifecta for the sire they stand and also sharing in the ownership of runner-up Zousain, who will eventually retire to stand at Widden.

Aquis Farm also shared in the joy being part-owners of Sunlight and also third place-getter Lean Mean Machine.

"Wow, what can I say!" said Tony McEvoy.

"It was a big call to take on the colts, but I always had faith in her. She's a courageous superstar. She was better than the colts as a two year-old and they get the nice 2kg pull off them in the weights."

Sunlight is a half-sister to Group III placed Sheikha and is the third winner from former speedy filly Solar Charged, winner of the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes at her second start.

Solar Charged has a two year-old full sister to Sunlight who was knocked down to McEvoy Mitchell Racing/David Redvers Bloodstock for $600,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is named Sisstar. She has trialled impressively and is set to make her debut in the Group III VRC Bumble Stakes at Flemington next Tuesday.

Solar Charged has a yearling Sebring colt and has foaled this spring producing a full brother to Sunlight pictured below at Widden Stud.



Sunlight is the first Group I winner for Zoustar, whose sire Northern Meteor won the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2013 and his sire Encosta de Lago won the race in its previous incarnation when it was the Group II VRC Ascot Vale Stakes.

The race was a total triumph for Zoustar, who also covered the dam of fourth placed colt Written By this spring!

The reigning Champion First Season Sire, Zoustar stands at a fee of $60,500 and that is looking like an absolute bargain with the benefit of hindsight.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Zoustar Heads Roster at Tweenhills Stud
Exciting Australian sire Zoustar will head the roster at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire next year when he makes his second shuttle trip from Widden Stud to the northern hemisphere.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
G3 Win for Sunlight Sister
Stakes-placed earlier this year in Adelaide, three year-old Zoustar filly Sisstar has taken a little longer to hit winning form than her famous older sister Sunlight, but she claimed a valuable Black Type success at Flemington on Oaks Day when leading all the way to win the Group III VRC Red Roses Stakes (1100m).
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Zoustyle Does it Again!
"The guys that own him were really disappointed when he drew wide but I said to them when he came over here and worked on Tuesday, 'this is really his favourite track’, he gets himself into such a good rhythm here and it's the only race all Summer that I had an opportunity to bring him back here to Doomben," Gollan said.