breednet.com.au

Championships Contenders Warm Up at Trials

Tara Madgwick - Friday March 29
It was all happening at the Randwick trials on Friday morning with Group I stars Trapeze Artist, Happy Clapper and Vega Magic all winning heats on their way to next week's The Championships, while three year-old Zoustar colts Zousain and Lean Mean Machine gave notice of their Group I intentions.

ZousainRed hot sire Zoustar has the best three year old sprinter in the country in Sunlight but she's a filly, so interest in his other colts from a breeding perspective is of high priority as the studs involved with Zousain (Widden Stud) and Lean Mean Machine (Aquis Farm) wrangle with the decision of whether to go to stud this spring or remain in training for another season.

Both colts are prepared by Chris Waller, who also trained their sire and both acquitted themselves well on Friday morning.

A Group II winner last season, Zousain was twice Group I placed in the spring finishing second in the Group I ATC Golden Rose and VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes, but has not been able to salute so far as a three year-old.

Last seen finishing unplaced to Sunlight in the Group I VRC Newmarket when he pulled up lame, Zousain looked in good order this morning.

He raced behind the speed for James McDonald before taking advantage of an inside run on straightening, forging clear to win the heat by a length and a half with multiple Group I winning mare Shoals and eye-catching third under a big hold.
The time for the trip was 1.03.4, last 600m in 34.60 second.

Lean Mean MachineLean Mean Machine is also a Group II winner last season and this season and was fifth in the Golden Rose and third in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. He's had two very tough tests at his only runs this year finishing unplaced in the Group VRC Lightning Stakes and the Newmarket, so might find something a touch easier at The Championships more to his liking.

He was asked by James McDonald to get another taste of that winning feeling in his heat when ridden out to set a new time standard, running 1.02.8 with a last 600m time of 34.90.

Both Zousain and Lean Mean Machine hold entries in the Group I ATC TJ Smith Stakes against the older horses and the rich $1million Group II Arrowfield Sprint for three year-olds during The Championships.

Click here for all the trial results at Breednet and at Racing NSW with video.



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