Zoustar's Espionage Leads Home a Waterhouse/Bott Trifecta in Breeders' Plate

Mark Smith - Saturday September 30

A trifecta for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the Group III Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick as the $1,000,000 Zoustar colt Espionage led home stablemates Straight Charge and Prost.

What a finish Espionage (green cap) gets the bob (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Blake Shinn, Espionage stalked the early speed and was strong to the line to edge out Yulong’s Written By colt Straight Charge by a short-half-head. The $650,000 Snitzel colt Prost was a head back in third in a thrilling finish.

Adrian Bott said he was still processing the result.

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“Just trying to dissect it all,” he said. “Saw the two stablemates clear out there and have a great battle. They’ve been two quality colts all the way through. I’m delighted for all of the connections. It’s an important race for these potential stallions, and each of those first three across the line are all big players in that department. They’ve all got significant upside to them.

“We’ve been lucky over the years to get the right support. Three heavyweights in the industry and they’re buying quality horses and we’re getting the opportunity to train these types. That’s a big help, no doubt.

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uo;He’s an expensive horse ($1 million yearling); he’s been beautiful from the outset. He’s done a great job, a well-deserved victory.

“All of them performed very credibly today. We will see how they pull up and work out what path to get in (the Golden Slipper).” 

The James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership shelled out $1,000,000 for Espionage from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The son of Zoustar is the second winner from as many to race for the talented Street Cry (USA) mare In Times Of War.

A winner at Warwick Farm, Randwick, and the Gold Coast for Chris Waller, In Times Of War, placed a further eleven times in a 21-start career.

In Times Of War is the daughter of the exceptional 2-year-old Military Rose (General Nediym), winner of the Group II ATC Reisling Stakes, Group III Gold Coast Guineas, BRC Calaway Gal Stakes, and Listed BJ McLachlan Stakes.

A decedent of the breed-shaper Summoned, In Times Of War has a yearling filly by Snitzel and revisited Zoustar last spring.

Espionage is the 42nd stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s flagship stallion, Zoustar. 

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Race Result - Arrowfield Breeders' Plate Gr3 1000m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 0:57.85
1
Espionage
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x In Times Of War (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: B Shinn 56
Zoustar
2
0.1
Straight Charge
- 2c Written By (AUS) x Matryoshka (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
Written By
3
0.9
Prost
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Samarmeteors (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 56
4
1.0
Fearless
- 2c Pierata (AUS) x Matildare (AUS) (Rothesay (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: C Schofield 56
5
1.2
Force Red
- 2c Cosmic Force (AUS) x Joseph's Coat (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: A Adkins 56
6
1.8
Highness
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Diana's Star (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Zac Lloyd 56
7
2.7
Counterpart
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Image (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56
8
3.5
Volatile
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Artemis Rose (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
9
3.6
Too Soon
- 2c Charge Forward (AUS) x Canny Lassie (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 56
10
4.7
Scampi
- 2c Blue Point (IRE) x Sistonic (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J R Collett 56
11
5.0
Capitol Hill
- 2c Prized Icon (AUS) x Yankee Eyes (AUS) (All American (AUS))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Rachel King 56
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