2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes favourite Zoustar may have been beaten in a jump-out at Flemington last Friday but delighted trainer Chris Waller with a scintillating piece of trackwork this morning.
Zoustar is chasing his second Group 1 victory in the 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Zoustar worked alongside Moriarty, who will run in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) on Saturday, and tucked in behind his stablemate before being unleashed at the 400 metre mark with the trademark acceleration that he exhibited in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).
Waller told TVN that he did not time the effort of the valuable colt but was adamant that the performance was the strongest that he has produced since arriving in Melbourne just over a fortnight ago.
“I don’t need to clock him, I’ve got clocks in my eyes,” Waller said.
“It was brilliant, as good as I could have hoped.
“He learned a lot from last week, that was the idea of the exercise and today we pushed him a little harder.
“I purposely worked him with Moriarty because he is quite sharp, he is a good worker and I wanted Zoustar to settle in behind and he did that and then found the line.”
Zoustar started his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with an unlucky fourth place finish in the Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) but followed that up with two dominant victories and following the death of his father Northern Meteor is now one of the most valuable stallion prospects in Australia.
The three-year-old drew the outside barrier in the Golden Rose and was taken to the back of the field by jockey Jim Cassidy before flying down the outside in the final stages of the race to record narrow victory over Dissident and Bull Point.
He returned to the races three weeks later in the Roman Consul Stakes at Royal Randwick and after being taken around the outside of the field showed a devastating turn-of-foot to race away from Darley colt Barbed and record the most impressive of victories by four and a half lengths.
Waller has called Zoustar ‘the next big thing in racing’ and there is reportedly a $20 million stud deal in the works for the son of Northern Meteor but the leading trainer fully expects his star colt to enhance his value even further this weekend with a win in the 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“I think he might be worth a little more after Saturday,” Waller said.
Zoustar will likely be spelled after Saturday’s race; with Waller all but ruling out a tilt at the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day.
