Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller expects Zoustar to be fit to run in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 12 after the multi-million colt pulled up lame at Randwick last Saturday.
Trainer Chris Waller expects Zoustar to be fit for the T J Smith Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Racing New South Wales stewards reported that Zoustar was “mildly lame in the near foreleg” following the Group 1 $500,000 Guinness Canterbury Stakes (1300m), but Waller is confident the injury is not too serious and with treatment will be right to make his appearance at ‘The Championships’.
“He is okay this morning,” Waller told Racing Network on Sunday morning.
“We’ve treated him with anti-inflammatory and he’s been iced so we won’t know the full extent until Monday but he seems okay.”
Zoustar’s disappointing first up eighth to Appearance on Saturday was a combination of the colt showing signs of soreness as well as over racing in the early stages of the race.
Jockey Jim Cassidy told stewards that Zoustar normally relaxes in his races but on Saturday the Northern Meteor colt raced keenly in the initial stages of the race at his first run since winning the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 2.
Waller is now looking to trial Zoustar before heading to the T J Smith Stakes in an attempt to take the freshness out of him so he will settle better in his races.
“It’s a balance between making sure he’s not too fresh and finding a trial that’s not too close to the race,” Waller said.
“There is one the Friday before or do we trial the week of the T.J.? That will be the hardest decision we have to make because we can’t have him too fresh.”
Zoustar is currently marked as a $7,50 chance in Ladbrokes.com.au T J Smith Stakes market order that has new sprinting sensation Lankan Rupee the $4.80 favourite.
Not Listenin’tome from the Team Hawkes stable is the second pick at $5.50 after being runner up to Appearance in the Canterbury Stakes while Queensland sprinter Buffering is still in the mix at $7 even though he was unplaced first up in the Group 2 $400,000 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick last Saturday.
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