Bright Future for Zoustar Filly

Media Release - Thursday April 27

Stella Splendida resumed in winning fashion at Hawera on Wednesday when taking out The Bold One @ Grangewilliam Stud 1200.

Stella Splendida has won two of four starts - image Trish Dunell

It was the Zoustar filly’s second career victory from four starts and Mark Walker was pleased to see her lead home a stable quinella, with Baronet one length in arrears.

“It was great to see her return to racing the way she did today and she won very comfortably,” Walker said.

“I think she’s a filly that could go right through the grades as a four and five-year-old. She is lightly raced and has a lot of upside.

“We expect she could race at black-type level next season, as a four-year-old, and see the very best of her a year later.”

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Stella Splendida was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis out of Pencarrow Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $800,000.

“She’s owned by some really good clients of Te Akau Racing and a big scopey filly that we’ve got a lot of time for, and now won two of her four starts,” Ellis said.

“One of the owners, Ben Kwok, is very loyal and supportive of Te Akau, and also the most successful owner in the world, John Magnier, who founded Coolmore Stud, has a sizeable share.”

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