A stakes winner with his first runner would be a dream start for any stallion and Zoustar gets his chance to achieve that feat at Flemington on Saturday in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes.
Following a hugely impressive win in a barrier trial at Cranbourne on September 4, the Tony McEvoy trained filly Sunlight will be favoured to make a winning debut under Luke Currie.
Consigned by Widden Stud
Sunlight (pictured as a yearling) is the fourth foal of the brilliantly fast Solar Charged whose pedigree is inextricably linked to one man, Peter Horwitz.
Horwitz bred and raced Solar Charged who is by the Horwitz raced stallion Charge Forward out of another Horwitz bred and owned mare Soul Singer (Danehill) who was out of another Horwitz owned mare Aretha who was a daughter of the best racehorse to race in the Horwitz silks, the Golden Slipper hero Sir Dapper.
Solar Charged made a winning debut over 1000 metres on the Kensington
She became a stakes winner at her next start in the Group III AJC Kindergarten Stakes. Following a third behind Military Rose in the Group II Reisling Stakes, Solar Charged rounded her juvenile season out with a credible sixth in Crystal Lily’s Golden Slipper.
After placing in the San Domenico Stakes and Silver Shadow Stakes, Solar Charged won the Group III Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield which proved to be her last victory.
The daughter of Charge Forward placed in the Group II Challenge Stakes and Group III Rubiton Stakes before an embarking on her career as a broodmare.
A half-sister to dual Listed winner Causeway Queen (Giant’s Causeway) and the multiple stakes-placed Brave Soul (More Than Ready), Solar Charged had fillies by Lonhro and Street Cry (IRE) before being consigned to the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when in foal to Sebring.
She was knocked down to Widden Stud/Qatar Bloodstock for $650,000.
Following the purchase Widden Sud’s Antony Thompson commented; "She’s a beautiful mare Solar Charged, just a beautiful strong and fast mare – everything you want to put her to Zoustar. She’ll be a star mare for him in his first season.”
The Sebring filly Solar Charged was carrying at the time of her sale was consigned to the 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Emirates Park for $350,000.
Named Sheikha and sent Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, she won at Warwick Farm in March before finishing third in the Group III Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick won by Property.
Solar Charged produced her fifth consecutive filly, another daughter of Zoustar before visiting Sebring again last spring.
Zoustar divides his time between Widden and Woodside Park Stud where he stands in 2017 at a fee of $44,000.
The dual Group 1 winning son of Northern Meteor had 87 first crop yearlings sell in 2017 at an average of $183,600.
They were highlighted by Edinglassie Stud’s three-quarter sister to Shooting To Win and Deep Field who was purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $1 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
