More Success for $800,000 Zoustar Mare

Media Release - Sunday December 31

Stella Splendida continued her winning ways at Taupo on Saturday, recording her fourth win from eight career starts in the Cosana NZ – Charge Of The Light Brigade (1200m).

Stella Splendida winning at Taupo on Saturday.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The daughter of Zoustar jumped well for Opie Bosson and settled in just behind the speed for the leading hoop. He asked her to improve to sit outside leader Kakadu at the 600m mark and the pair entered a dogfight down the home straight, with Stella Splendida just getting the better of her foe in the final strides to win by a nose, settling the nerves of punters who backed her into $1.80 favouritism.

“It was a good, tough, win and I don’t think the track was really to her liking, but she dug deep to get up and win by a nose,” said Mark Walker, who trains the four-year-old in partnership with Sam Bergerson.

“It was another gun ride from Opie and he just never seems to get beaten in a tight finish.”

The Matamata trainers are now setting their sights towards stakes targets with their mare and are contemplating a trip south to their Riccarton base to try and earn some valuable black-type.

“We’ve got her confidence back, which is really good, and where her rating is currently we may even look to the South Island for a suitable black-type race,” Walker said.

Stella Splendida was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis out of Pencarrow Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $800,000, and the Te Akau principal was pleased to see her notch up another win on Saturday.

“It was an awkwardly run race, but good to see her get there and she’s now won four of her eight starts,” Ellis said.

“I think the slow ground was a touch beyond her too, so it was a good effort given the conditions.

Advertisement

“We considered her the best filly in the sale that year and, rightfully, she topped the sale.

“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.

“We’ve trained horses for Coolmore, but she’s the first horse we’ve had in work for him personally and it’s very exciting to have a progressive winning filly that he’s involved in.

“John got in touch with me to say that he’d been impressed with the horses that we’d been buying at Te Akau and he’d like to be involved in a nice filly.

“I think she’s got more ahead of her and Mark and Sam are doing a good job of placing her as she works through the grades.”

Ellis is preparing for the upcoming yearling sales next month, with Magic Millions on the Gold Coast followed closely by Karaka 2024 in Auckland.

“We’ve got a big month ahead at the sales, which I’m really looking forward to, and following our inspections I’ve been going through the pedigrees with Marcus Corban,” Ellis said.

“We have seen some lovely yearlings, some of which we will be trying to buy at auction, and we’ll be heading to the Gold Coast to start work next week.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Via Sistina Crowned Australian Horse of the Year
Via Sistina (IRE) has been honoured at a great many awards events in the past couple of months and the Yulong owned daughter of champion sire Fastnet Rock took the big one in Brisbane on Sunday.
Pedigree Watch – 3YO - Changing of the Guard?
Last Saturday, spring kicked into overdrive and we saw three Group races for 3YO colts and geldings that included the winners of last season’s GI MRC Blue Diamond, G1ATC Sires Produce and the Golden Slipper runner-up, but none of them could land a blow.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Robert Priscott
Former Group One-winning trainer Robert Priscott has passed away.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Melbourne Racing Club Announces Official Trial Schedule for 2025–26
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) is thrilled to announce a comprehensive schedule of 15 Official Trials across the 2025–26 season, providing an essential service to trainers, owners and jockeys while addressing the industry’s increasing need for metropolitan grass access.
2025 NZB Ready to Run Catalogue Online - World’s Most Successful 2YO Sale
The catalogue for the 2025 edition of the leading sale of two-year-olds is now online and in mailboxes, with NZB excited to unveil another stellar offering at the Ready to Run Sale.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 31
Here is the full list of 63 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bright Future for Zoustar Filly
Stella Splendida resumed in winning fashion at Hawera on Wednesday when taking out The Bold One @ Grangewilliam Stud 1200.
One to Watch – Ballarat
An Ole Kirk filly from a famous female family started a short priced favourite at Ballarat on Monday and duly got the cash.