Two foals born in 1994 for David Moodie's Contract Racing were destined to begin a dynasty that continues to thrive two decades later.
The first, Razor Blade, a daughter of the homebred stallion Blazing Sword, was a top-class racemare, winning eight and placing in five of 15 starts. She reeled off seven consecutive wins for Guy Walter, including the Group III Tatt's QLD Winter Stakes (now Group 1 Tatt's Tiara), the Listed (now Group III) AJC The Nivison, and the Listed BATC Diamond Stud Stakes (Group III Pam O'Neil Stakes).
Razor Blade produced the triple Group 1 winner Flamberge, Group II Sunburnt Land, dual Group III winner Durendal and multiple Listed winner Curtana.
All ten of her foals raced and returned over $4,000,000.
The second mare born in 1994 was Crystal Snip, a daughter of Snippets.
A half-sister to stakes-winners Crystal Finale and Crystal Hawk, Crystal Snip did not race.
She left four stakes winners and provided the Moodie family with a memorable moment when her daughter Crystal Lily (Stratum) sailed down the outside of the Rosehill straight to win the 2010 STC Golden Slipper Stakes.
Sadly, Crystal Lilly was destined not to extend her influence at stud. She collapsed and died during trackwork at Flemington.
Crystal Snip's talented daughter Crystal Sprite (Hurricane Sky), a winner at Caulfield in a light career, is the dam of Carrara (Elvstroem), whose four stakes wins were highlighted by the Group II MVRC Bill Stutt Stakes in the start before finishing second to Starspangledbanner in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.
Another of Crystal Snip's four stakes winners was the Listed SAJC Dequetteville Stakes winner Crystal Wit.
From the second of just two crops left by the future champion North American stallion, Distorted Humor (USA), Crystal Wit is the dam of the Group III MRC The Heath, and Listed Listed MRC Doveton Stakes, Crystal Dreamer (Stratum), who was third in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.
But it's Crystal Wit's first foal, Fast Talker, that has elevated the family.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock was a $320,000 buy for BBA Ireland at the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale. She won at Sandown, Moonee Valley, and Morphettville and placed eight times in an 18-start career, including a valuable stakes-placing at Morphettville.
Fast Talker sold for $280,000 the next time she went through a sale ring, the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale, with Vin Cox signing the ticket.
This was not to be an instant success story. Fast Talker slipped in her first season, missed in the second, and her first foal did not see a racetrack.
Her second foal, Campaign, won at Canterbury and Kembla in 32 starts, but she missed again in 2015.
Though Fast Talker would continue to prove an unreliable breeder, there has been plenty of blue skies since.
Her first visit to Zoustar resulted in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes winner Persuader. Then followed the Sebring filly The Actuary, who won the Listed Phoenix Stakes.
Yulong purchased The Actuary's first foal, a Zoustar colt, at the Magic Millions in January for $760,000.
Fast Talker hit the mother lode with her fifth foal, Zougotcha. Bred by Widden Stud and Robert Anderson's RMA Bloodstock Trust, the daughter of Zoustar was consigned to the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with Chris Waller and his bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster having the final say at $500,000.
What an investment it has proven to be. The 4-year-old daughter of Zoustar has banked over $1.8 million with her seven wins in 14 starts, including the Group 1 ATC Flight Stakes, Group 1 Coolmore Classic, and four Group II victories in the Silver Shadow stakes, Phar Lap Stakes, Tea Rose Stakes, and Millie Fox Stakes.
Zougotcha will be out to add the $580,000 winner's cheque in Saturday's Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes, where two of her stablemates, Atishu (Savabeel) and Olentia (Zoustar), shape as major challengers.
Atishu will defend the title she won most convincingly last year, while Olentia has struck form at the right time. She is coming off a win in the Group II ATC Emancipation Stakes, which followed a close-up fourth in the Group III Birthday Card Stakes won by Chain Of Lightning.
Fast Talker did not have a foal in the two seasons following Zougotcha. She had a Written Tycoon colt in 2022, a $500,000 buy for MG Price Racing & Breeding / D Farrington from the Widden Stud draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Fast Talker missed in 2022 and was covered by Zoustar last spring.
