On a day when Aga Khan Studs announced their champion sire Siyouni would be available for Southern Hemisphere covers another of their up and coming sires Zarak, posted his first Australian winner and he saluted in some very well known colours.
Australian Bloodstock are very good at sniffing out under the radar tried horses from Europe as well as some obvious high profile ones like Gold Trip (Fr) and they featured with a lightly raced maiden winner at Scone on Tuesday when the Kris Lees trained three year-old Zaphod (IRE) won his first start in Australia over 1700m.
He started twice in Ireland last year for a debut win at Tipperary and then was third in the Group III Eyrefield Stakes (1m1f) behind a couple of Aidan O’Brien trained colts before finding his way to Australia.
He enjoyed the heavy track at Scone and forged clear at the finish in the manner of a horse likely to win a lot more staying races in this country.
Zaphod is the second winner from Pocket of Stars, a placed half-sister by Sea the Stars to Group I winner Silver Frost and Group II winner Spiritjim.
By champion sire Dubawi from champion racemare Zarkava, Group I winning Zarak is very much a young sire on the rise in Europe with his fee this year climbing to €60,000. With his oldest progeny just turned five, he has sired 20 SW’s including this year’s French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan and runs at 10% SW to runner.
