Zoustar had a productive Saturday with two new stakes-winners starting with two year-old colt Growing Empire, winner of the Listed MVRC Moonee Valley Pearl and followed later in the day in Adelaide by four year-old mare Climbing Star, who took out the Listed SAJC Matrice Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
Group placed twice previously, the Phillip Stokes trained mare was overdue for a Black Type success and got the job done with a commanding victory scoring by nearly three lengths at her first run back from a spell.
A $600,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Widden Stud draft for Phillip Stokes Racing Pty Ltd / Rick Connolly Bloodstock, Climbing Star runs for a syndicate that includes her breeder Qatar Bloodstock and has the overall record of two wins and four seconds from 12 starts with prizemoney topping $260,000.
“We’ve always had a big opinion of her, although her form probably doesn’t read like that,” said Phillip Stokes.
“We set her for this race and then to the Robert Sangster (G1) in three weeks. We’ve always known she had a heap of ability and she’s just gotten better with age.”
Climbing Star is a half-sister to dual Group III winner Sansom and is the fourth winner from Fastnet Rock mare Bryony, a sister to Group I winner Heroic Valour and three-quarter sister to Group I winner Triple Honour.
Bryony had another filly by Zoustar last year and is back in foal to him again.
Climbing Star is the 51st stakes-winner for Zoustar and is bred on the Zoustar x Fastnet Rock nick, which is becoming ever more successful.
The stats are 38 winners from 48 runners, so 79% winner to runner and there are six stakes-winners headed by G1 winners Zougotcha and Joliestar making for 12.5% SW to runner.
