Zoustyle dominant again
Unbeaten 3-year-old Zoustyle (Zoustar) looks to be another future star from his sire's first crop.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding completed his third victory in as many starts when winning by two lengths at Doomben on Saturday.
"I'm happy to see him run home in 33.13, we're looking to take him to the 1200m in the Winning Rupert in two weeks, so he did everything I could have asked," Gollan said after the race.
Jockey Brad Stewart, who enjoyed a winning treble, was effusive in his praise for Zoustyle.
"He goes like an open company horse whose been doing it his whole life and the way he's going he's the best horse I've ridden," said Brad Stewart.
"I don't want to jump the gun on that but potentially he is. The sky's the limit."
Perth ruled out for rising star
The connections of the exciting Fifty Stars (IRE) (Sea The Stars {IRE}) have decided against a trip to Perth.
The 4-year-old won Saturday's G3 Sandown S., and trainer Darren Weir was considering a tilt at the G1 Railway S., at Ascot. However, he has now thought better and scrapped the proposed venture.
“It's just the logistics of it all,” Weir said. “It's just a bit hard on the horse. I just want to make sure I make the right decisions as he's got a good future.”
Fifty Stars had made rapid progress since his arrival from Europe and Weir is now pondering the horse’s immediate future.
“He's a beautiful horse and he's got a good pedigree so we need to win a good race," he said.
Weir will have Iconoclasm (Toorak Toff) and Peaceful State (Animal Kingdom {USA}) in the Railway S., while Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible) and Junipal (Reset) will also be heading out west.
Taj Mahal shows his zip
The Williams family has continued their recent domination of the G2 Quayclean Zipping S., at Sandown.
Last year’s winner The Taj Mahal (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) provided them with their eighth win in the event when he successfully defended his title in Saturday’s feature.
The Zipping Classic is named after the Williams-owned stayer that won the then Sandown Classic four times from 2007 to 2010.
“Ben (Melham) gave him a good ride and I think the runner-up (Dal Harraild) went particularly well,” Nick Williams said.
‘"When Ben got up alongside the other horse he thought he was going to win, but to the second horse’s credit he fought to the line.
“It was a bob of the head and it could have gone either way.”
Williams said the race fitted the programmes of their horses and sang the praises of the Sandown course.
“It's the best racetrack in Victoria given its geography and it gives every horse its chance,” he said.
The Taj Mahal finished fifth in the G1 Caulfield Cup before a tough run in the G3 Moonee Valley Cup.
Parr grilled by stewards
Stewards are taking a close look at Josh Parr’s ride on the beaten favourite Roheryn (Lonhro) at Rosehill.
They adjourned the inquiry to study betting records and the James Cummings-trained colt's previous races.
Roheryn came out last of the seven runners in the 2019 Membership H., with Chess Star (Fighting Sun) making the running.
The leader held a strong gallop to win by a margin with Roheryn closing for second.
Racing NSW stewards asked Parr why he had not made a move earlier in the race.
“At that time it didn't seem possible,” Parr said. “I would have had to take a three-wide line."
Cummings said he and Parr were obviously disappointed, but pointed out the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Chess Star was the obvious danger.
“Chess Star ran second in a trial to Redzel and Pierata was in the trial as well," Cummings said.
Birchley on familiar Millions trail
Liam Birchley is chasing further success in the Karaka Million, this time with Neptune’s Star (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}).
Ridden by Brad Stewart, the 2-year-old led throughout to win the Novotel Brisbane Airport H., at Doomben on Saturday.
“He ran as good as he looks and hopefully he'll get a bit more professional going forward,” Birchley said.
“He's a real athlete and a colt that doesn't look like he'll get too heavy, and he's still very calm at this point. So far his temperament has been flawless.”
Stewart said Neptune's Spear would only get better with more experience.
“When I asked him for an effort he didn't know what to do with his legs, but having that run under his belt will improve him,” Stewart said.
Birchley has previously won the Karaka Million with Sister Havana (NZ) (General Nediym) and Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
Emperor does it in style
Ocean Emperor (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) has won three times at Group 2 level and trainer and part-owner Gary Hennessy has his sights set on going one better.
He successfully defended his Tauranga S. title on Saturday to go with his Japan-New Zealand International Trophy success.
“I think he showed he has a decent race in him, which hopefully is the Captain Cook Stakes,” Hennessy said.
The Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook S. will be run at Trentham on December 8.
On Saturday, Ocean Emperor raced in behind the leader and once he was given clear air he proved too good.
“The horse has a huge turn of foot so we don’t want him leading,” Hennessy said.
“You can see when he does get in the trail, he has something to offer and he explodes into it and doesn’t give in.
“He has a ton of guts and is just a lovely horse to deal with.”
Masetto a Derby contender
Team Rogerson believes it has a genuine Classic contender in Masetto (NZ) (Cape Blanco {IRE}).
“He’s a very good horse and we’ve always had a Derby in the backs of our minds – which Derby we don’t know yet,” Debbie Rogerson said.
“You can ride him back, you can ride him forward – he’s very adaptable in his racing pattern.”
Masetto won his maiden at Te Aroha at his second start and he was successful again in age group company in the Tauranga Hardware and Plumbing 1400 on Saturday.
He camped in behind the leaders and once clear 150 metres from home he found the line powerfully.
“If he had got beaten he would have been desperately unlucky,” Rogerson said.
Masetto is bred to star over ground, his father was a multiple Group 1 winner up to 2400 metres while his mother Passchendaele (NZ) (Montjeu {IRE}) won the G2 Waikato Gold Cup and was twice a Group 1 placegetter.
Million-dollar baby salutes on debut
Kembla Grange debutant Stronger (Not A Single Doubt) took out the 2-year-old event at Kembla Grange on Saturday by 1.3 lengths.
The son of Not A Single Doubt, who enjoyed stakes success with Cool Passion at Sandown, was a $1.05 million purchase from Arrowfield draft of the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by James Harron.
He is a son of Star Pupil (Starcraft) who is a half-sister to stakes winners Bachman and Ain'tnofallenstar, as well as Singapore Horse of the Year Stepitup.
Chic both smart and tough
Gallant mare Chic (Savabeel) proved herself to be one of the stars of the undercard during the New Zealand Cup carnival.
The Kevin Myers-prepared 6-year-old showed her resilience with runner-up finishes on the opening two days and fronted up again on Saturday to beat her Rating 82 rivals in the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier.
“She’s a tough mare and coped with all three runs very well,” said the trainer’s niece Rosie Myers, who took the reins.
“I probably go there a bit too soon, but she stuck it out best.”
A NZ$90,000 Karaka yearling, Chic is from the family of the 2012-13 New Zealand Horse of the Year and G1 Cox Plate winner Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) and the G1 Otaki-Maori WFA S. winner Critic (NZ) (Centaine).
