One to Watch – Wyong

Tara Madgwick - Thursday September 28

It has been far from smooth sailing for this talented Zoustar colt, but he finally made it to the races at Wyong on Thursday and put the best foot forward.

The Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace trained Dark Halo has been a problem child at the barriers and after being scratched from a midweek meeting earlier this month was sent back to the barrier trials and tried with a barrier blanket.

That proved successful and he duly bolted in that trial by nine and a half lengths, but race day can be a little different so there were no doubt some anxious moments for connections until he safely left the stalls at Wyong with Jason Collet on board.

Advertisement

Dark Halo surged to the front and cantered home to win the 1100m maiden by four lengths and will take good confidence from the experience clocking a second quicker time than the other 1100m maiden run earlier in the day.

“He was really impressive in that trial and he’s brought it to race day,” said Jason Collett.

“The barrier blanket did the job. He got the lead easily and quickened really well.”

Dark Halo was a $280,000 Magic Millions purchase for Vinery Stud.

A $280,000 Magic Millions purchase for Vinery from the Yulong draft, Dark Halo is the first named foal from Group III placed Written Tycoon mare Written Era, who comes from the family of Group I winners My Brilliant Star, Shot of Thunder, Lachlan River and Sudurka.

Written Era was bought by Yulong for $775,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and has a yearling filly by Tagaloa and is due to foal to him again.

Her two year-old colt by Alabama Express was bought by Ciaron Maher for $160,000 at Magic Millions this year.

Advertisment

Race Result - Omni - Hager - Cabac Mdn Hcp 1100m

Wyong Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:03.66
1
Dark Halo
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Written Era (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
2
4.0
Rhesus
- 3g Lonhro (AUS) x Calliope (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 56
3
4.1
Keenan
- 3c Capitalist (AUS) x Rare Fragrance (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
4
6.3
Rickythesteamboat
- 3g Rubick (AUS) x Street Made (CAN) (Street Boss (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 56.5
5
7.5
Gold Academy
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Yattarna (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Ryan Maloney 56.5
6
8.0
Meerut
- 5g Sepoy (AUS) x Dshizzl (AUS) (Marju (IRE))
Tnr: T J Drayton Rdr: D Mc Lellan 55
7
11.3
Laser Beam
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Killer Queen (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55
8
16.3
Sizzling Boy
- 5g Sizzling (AUS) x Zero Stress (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: Nikki Hodgson Rdr: G Buckley 59
9
17.1
Artic Panther
- 3g Frosted (USA) x Purringa (AUS) (Purrealist (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: A Hyeronimus 56.5
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
Winning Hat Trick for So You Think Filly
So You Think has ticked over $12million in seasonal earnings with 150 plus winners including seven stakes-winners and while Covert Thinking is not among the luminaries by her sire, this tenacious 3YO has won three on the trot and landed her first metro victory on Wednesday.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.