Zousain Filly Chateau Miraval Makes Winning Debut

Mark Smith - Wednesday February 14

The highly-regarded Zousain filly, Chateau Miraval, lived up to the wraps when making a winning debut at Randwick Kensington on Wednesday, but it was a close-run thing.

Advertisement

Ridden by Tim Clark for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the Yulong colour-bearer took up the running from the $700,000Zoustar debutant Growing Empire, who also sported the bottle green Yulong silks.  

Chateau Miraval clung to a desperate short-half-head advantage over Growing Empire in a driving finish, but the drama did not end there.

Growing Empire took a sharp left turn shortly after the winning post and crashed through the outside running rail as Jason Collett bailed out.

 Fortunately, both horse and rider seemed to come out of the incident relatively unscathed, although Collett was stood down for the rest of the day.   

The $950,000 I Am Invincible first-starter President came from last to finish third.

“It was a tough effort on debut. She was excellent and very courageous, and there is plenty of upside,” Adrian Bott said.

“She is no doubt one of the best fillies in the yard. She will take the fillies lead-ups to the Golden Slipper and we will see how she stacks up. I think she can get to black-type level, which will be important for the family and connections.

Rosemont Stud consigned Chateau Miraval to the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was the highest-priced yearling by her first crop sire, Zousain, when Yu Long Investments/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds had the final say at $650,000.

Chateau Miraval a $650,000 Magic Millions yearling

A three-quarter-sister to Group II Furious Stakes winner and Group 1 Flight Stakes third North Star Lass (Zoustar), the strapping bay filly is the third winner from as many to race for the talented Sheila's Star (Snitzel), a 5-time winner and Group III placed.

A half-sister to stakes-winner Jacqueline Rouge out of the Group III VATC Blue Diamond Preview winner Northeast Sheila, Sheila's Star was a $250,000 purchase for Rosemont Stud at the 2017 National Broodmare Sale and sold three years later for $90,000 to Sandhurst Bloodstock.

After foaling a Zoustar filly in September, Sheila's Star was covered by Zoustar in November after missing to an earlier cover by Wootton Bassett (GB).

Chateau Miraval is the third winner and second Australian winner in the space of two days for Widden Stud’s Zousain after Drifting impressed on debut at Hawkesbury. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Prague Yearlings Selling Now Mdn Plate 1100m

Randwick-Kensington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:02.52
1
Chateau Miraval
- 2f Zousain (AUS) x Sheila's Star (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 55
2
0.1
Growing Empire
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Miles Of Krishan (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J R Collett 57
3
1.7
President
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Serene Majesty (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 57
4
3.6
Asteride
- 2f Astern (AUS) x Essie's Pride (AUS) (Murtajill (AUS))
Tnr: R & L Price Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55
5
3.6
Diamond Firetail
- 2f Epaulette (AUS) x Painted Firetail (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 55
6
4
Deputize
- 2c Dubious (AUS) x Thisisus (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Regan Bayliss 57
7
6.4
Elegant Artist
- 2f Trapeze Artist (AUS) x I Like It Easy (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 55
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Ardrossan Supporters Rewarded with Taken
The emergence of the Victorian-based Taken is another winning story for a New Zealand breeding and ownership group established to support the three-year-old’s young sire.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 24
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Wyong
The juvenile maiden at Wyong on Tuesday had some interesting runners including the highest price yearling by Maurice (Jpn) sold in 2024 and he did take the win, but it was not without drama.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.