Epaulette's Military Zone Powers Home in Fred Best Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday May 25

Winner of the Listed Gosford Guineas and Group III Hawkesbury Guineas and most recently second in the Inglis 3yo Guineas at Scone, the Epaulette gelding Military Zone earned a free ticket for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap with a fast-finishing win in Saturday's Group III Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained 3yo stormed home under James McDonald to defeat held Baccarat Baby (Casino Prince) by a length with Krone (Eurozone) a head back in third. (Steve Hart)

The Triple Crown colour-bearer advances his record to 5 wins and 1 second from 10 starts with earnings of $463,530.

Immediately after the race, Peter Snowden would not commit to a start in the Stradbroke.

"It's way too early to say whether or not he'll run in the Stradbroke," Snowden told AAP.

"He's a really nice horse. I've always liked this bloke and he's getting better with racing but I reckon he's another prep away.

"He's probably a spring or autumn horse not so much now. There's a long, hard thinking process to go through now and hopefully, we make the right call.

"I just don't want to bust the horse. It's always in the back of your mind that one run too many could be the undoing of them rather than the making of them.

"I'll give myself an uppercut if he runs (in the Stradbroke) and runs poorly because he doesn't deserve that. I'll let the dust settle and make a decision in a week's time."

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).

Purchased for just $8,000 at the 2013 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Loading Zone has a yearling colt by Kermadec, which was purchased by Triple Crown for $280,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and a weanling filly by Manhattan Rain. She was covered by Russian Revolution last spring.

Epaulette (Commands) earned an increase to $27,500 at Darley Stud last spring where he covered 88 mares and will stand at the same fee in 2019. 


Advertisment
More Reading...
Epaulette Filly Aryaaf Blows Them Away in Ottawa Stakes
Seven years ago Shadwell Stud’s two-year-old Shamardal (USA) filly Bulbula won the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes for trainer David Hayes and did not win another race in 13 starts, so the same connections will be hoping that Bulbula’s daughter Aryaaf can build on her hugely impressive debut in the Group III Darley Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
First win for Tassie MM Sale-Topper
The top priced offering at the 2018 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale was a lovely colt by Epaulette that fetched $100,000 and he opened his account with a stylish win at Cranbourne on Wednesday.
Epaulette's Mr Cashman Makes Winning Debut at Moonee Valley
Darley Stud’s Epaulette can sure get a runner and you don’t have to pay a million dollars for them, which makes him very attractive for syndicators like Prime Thoroughbreds Joe O’Neil.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.