Early Saturday Double for Zoustar – Siblings for Sale to Zestiman and Zoumeteor

Tara Madgwick - Saturday January 13

Widden Stud's champion sire Zoustar started Saturday with winners in Melbourne and at the Gold Coast for Magic Millions Day with Lindsay Park unleashing two year-old colt Zestiman for a debut win at Flemington, while Zoumeteor won the $500,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m).

Zestiman wins on debut - image Ross Holburt / Racing Photos

Zestiman has the distinction of being the cheapest Zoustar yearling sold at Inglis Easter last year when he was snapped up for just $115,000 by Dream Thoroughbreds / Bluegrass Bloodstock (FBAA) / Lindsay Park from the Yarraman Park draft.

He’s obviously been showing good ability and went out favourite for the open juvenile event over 1000m and finished off with a well timed run to score a determined long neck win.

“It was a terrific debut and was a great ride by Luke Currie to keep him in a rhythm  and he was strong late, so it was a relatively straight forward race,” said Will Hayes.

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“He’s a Zoustar colt and we’re keeping the dream alive. We’ll see how he pulls up, but it’s a great time of year to have a 2YO winner, so he’ll progress through the Blue Diamond Preludes and Previews if he’s up to it and so far so good.”

Zestiman is the second winner from Estijmaam, an unraced Exceed and Excel daughter of Group II placed Sean Baile Mor.

The half-brother by So You Think to Zestiman to be offered at K1.

His yearling half-brother by So You Think will be offered at Karaka Book 1 as Lot 51 by Carlaw Park, who purchased him as a weanling at Magic Millions National for $150,000.

Zoumeteor wins the $500,000 MM Country Cup - image Grant Courtney

Making it a double for Zoustar was four year-old gelding Zoumteor, who led all the way to win the $500,000 MM Country Cup (1200m) for the Stuart Kendrick stable.
 

From multiple stakes winner Kakakakatie, Zoumteor has now won five of his 13 starts, with Saturday’s victory taking his prizemoney earnings beyond $370,000.

Kendrick said he was rapt to win a lucrative Magic Millions feature for a group of loyal owners. 

“It’s a big thrill,” Kendrick said.

“We’ve got some great owners in this horse that have been really supportive.

“Angie got him across terrific and he’s got such a high cruising speed this horse, he’s a tough bugger and he kept giving.

“He’s a massive, big striding horse and when he gave that kick at the top of the straight, it gave us something to cheer about.”

Zoumeteor was bred by Gerry Harvey and offered in the Westbury Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he passed in after failing to meet his $150,000 reserve.

Zoumeteor’s half-brother by Ole Kirk is Lot 1211 at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and will be offered by Baramul Stud on Monday.

Kendrick, who trains on the Sunshine Coast, has been active during the first four days of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with three purchases, including Lot 600, a Snitzel filly from Baramul Stud’s draft that was secured for $350,000. 

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Race Result - All Jockeys Dash 1000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 0:58.89
1
Zestiman
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Estijmaam (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: L Currie 59
2
0.3
I'm Kenough
- 2c Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Sell In May (NZ) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: D W Stackhouse 59
3
1.6
Twin Engine
- 2f Flying Artie (AUS) x Light Touch (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Damian Lane 57
4
3.1
Ravenite
- 2c Hellbent (AUS) x Latina Belle (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: L Kennewell & L Yeomans Rdr: Celine Gaudray 57.5
5
5.1
Cool Star
- 2f Stratum Star (AUS) x Cool Coco (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: Tetyana Furdetska Rdr: T Ladd 57
6
6.6
Salsa Fellow
- 2c Blue Point (IRE) x She Goes To Rio (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: Jye McNeil 59
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