Beaten out of a place as an odd-on favourite on a heavy track at Traralgon, the 3yo Zoustar colt Zouthur appreciated the firmer going when breaking his maiden over 1200m at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.
Continuing the terrific run of success for Seymour Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher, and David Eustice, Zouthur enjoyed the run of the race for Ben Allen. He defeated the well-baked favourite Mugen (Deep Field) by a half-head with the 3yo filly Shanghai Venture (Akeed Mofeed) a short-head back in third.
Co-trainer David Eustice said they may have erred in running the colt at Traralgon.
"A couple of starts on wet ground did not go to plan, so it was good to see him put it all together today," Eustice said.
"He knuckled down, which was most pleasing.
"We pulled the wrong rein (at Traralgon) and ran in the wrong race, but thankfully he has repaid everyone's patience. It's great to get a win for Seymour Bloodstock's Darren Thomas as well as Qatar Bloodstock and Andrew Hood.
"He's a colt who will progress and grow mentally and physically.
"Ben has had a lot of faith in him, so hopefully, he can push on to a better race.
"There's a race down the straight at Flemington in three weeks, so he will probably go there, and then we will reassess."
Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, Zouthur was a $200,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Widden Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
He is the second winner from as many to race for the Sebring mare Thurlow, who carried the Qatar Bloodstock colours to victory in the Group II MRC Chairman's Stakes and Listed Merson Cooper Stakes.
T D Aitken Horse Training and Education shelled out $80,000 for Thurlow's Charm Spirit (IRE) colt from the Stonehouse Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Thurlow has a yearling colt and filly foal by Zousain.
Zoustar has 41 catalogued for the Gold Coast, nine at the Inglis Classic, and four at Karaka.
