One To Watch - Geelong

Mark Smith - Friday August 11

If the win of the Written Tycoon debutant Southport Tycoon in the opener at Geelong on Friday came as a pleasant surprise for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the Zoustar mare Golden Estrella carried full support of the stable in the 4YO+ Maiden Plate (1230m), but she had her supporters sweating.

Better wins in store for Golden Estrella (image George Sal/Racing Photos)

Ben Melham eased Golden Estrella back to worse than midfield to find some cover. Forced widest of all on the home turn, the 4yo daughter of Zoustar looked to be treading water before picking up the bit with less than 100m to run.

She motored home to defeat New York Scandal (Manhattan rain) by a half-length, with Moonflower (Lonhro) a neck back in third.

Advertisement

Golden Estrella went off an odds-on favourite following a solid fourth when on debut over 1200m at Sandown Lakeside on July 5.

“She’s a nice mare but not the finished product,” Melham said.

“She is lightly raced a lacks a bit of speed from the gates, which often puts you in an awkward position.  

“She was the best horse in the race and did it the hard way. She was three deep, and I had to get going around the corner, which I did not want to do.

“She has good ability and will win much better races than this.”

Cosigned by Widden Stud to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Golden Estrella was a $625,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.

Golden Estrella a $625,000 Magic Millions yearling

She is the third winner from as many to race for the Flying Spur mare Thrill.

A $140,000 purchase for The Racing Agency from the Willow Park draft at the 2018 Inglis Chairmans Sale, Thrill is a half-sister to the Group II VRC Blamey Stakes winner, and 4-time Group 1 placed Star Of The Seas and the Listed winner and Group 1 VRC Darley Classic, and Group 1 Lightning Stakes runner-up Spieth.

In January, Curran Bloodstock went to $400,000 to secure a three-quarter sister to Golden Estrella, by Zousian, from the Widden draft at the Magic Millions.

After foaling a Zousain filly last spring, Thrill was covered by Trapeze Artist.

Advertisment

Race Result - Roderick Insurance Brokers Mdn 1230m

Geelong Track: Good(3) Time: 1:13.24
1
Golden Estrella
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Thrill (NZ) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: B Melham 57.5
2
0.5
New York Scandal
- 4m Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Scandimania (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: Aaron Laing Rdr: J Mott 57.5
3
0.8
Moonflower
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Night Garden (USA) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 57.5
4
2.3
Albanian Wrestler
- 4g Cable Bay (IRE) x Invested Capital (GB) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: P Koumis Rdr: Josh Cartwright 59.5
5
4.0
Temple Of Gold
- 4m Xtravagant (NZ) x Mussenden (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: C Newitt 57.5
6
4.1
Duel Venture
- 4g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Raving Beauty (NZ) (Pupil (AUS))
Tnr: G Eurell Rdr: Damian Lane 59.5
7
4.9
Hellofastorm
- 4m Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Young Doctor (AUS) (Jeune (GB))
Tnr: Jamie Edwards Rdr: Zac Spain 57.5
8
5.0
Order Of Glory
- 5m Squamosa (AUS) x Commanding Angel (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Thomas Sadler Rdr: R Mc Leod 57.5
9
5.5
Speedy Edie
- 4m Press Statement (AUS) x Stellaglacier (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Nathan Dunn Rdr: Declan Bates 57.5
10
7.7
Bella Fillide
- 4m Caravaggio (USA) x Deja Blue (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: D E Coombes Rdr: Tom Madden 57.5
11
8.2
Stern Approach
- 4m Astern (AUS) x Demand Applause (AUS) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: N A Blackiston Rdr: R Downey 57.5
12
13.2
Twelve Gauge
- 7g Bullet Train (GB) x Circus Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S Ferchie Rdr: J Maskiell 59.5
More Reading...
First Season Highlights – These Guys Made an Impression
The Inglis Australian Weanling Sale gave buyers the opportunity to have a first look at the progeny of a new crop of  first season sires and the big banger of the group duly produced the highest priced baby from this cohort of sires.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Million Dollar Goal for I Am Invincible Filly
Tony and Calvin McEvoy landed a lucrative victory in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May last year with Arabian Summer and are hopeful they have another filly that can do the job this year in Sisstainable.
Rising Stars - Metro 2YO Double for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) unleashed not one but two exciting juveniles at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with the opening race going to the colt Regulated Affair and shortly after it was the turn of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly Agarwood.
Queensland Calling for Exciting Wootton Bassett Colt
Champion trainer Chris Waller is renowned for producing talented back season juveniles that blossom into stakes performers and we saw one at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when heavily backed Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Regulated Affair opened his account.
Castelvecchio Filly Records Promising Victory
Having placed in her first two starts, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman trained Street Lark (Castelvecchio) appeared to appreciate the step up to the 1500m of Wednesday’s Sportsbet Get On Extra Plate at Caulfield to break her maiden with a promising performance..
First Win for Sword of State Half-Sister
Well-related filly Paravane broke through for her maiden win in pleasing fashion at Ellerslie on Wednesday when taking out the Join TAB Racing Club 1200 in the hands of senior hoop Vinnie Colgan.
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.
French Derby Contender for Godolphin
The Godolphin winning run continued in France overnight with a French Derby contender emerging in the shape of progressive Lope de Vega colt Cualificar, who is out of Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.