Zoustar G3 Winx Guineas Quinella

Tara Madgwick - Sunday July 14

The $300,000 Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) was postponed from last Saturday at the Sunshine Coast due to a rain soaked track and while the track on Sunday was still a heavy 9 it was a safe surface with Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar delivering a quinella with progressive gelding Xidaki edging out the Victorian trained filly Miss Aria.

Xidaki wins the G3 Winx Guineas - image Racing Queensland / Michael McInally

Xidaki wins the G3 Winx Guineas - image Racing Queensland / Michael McInally

Winner of the Listed Canberra Guineas in March, the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Xidaki has been in work since well before Christmas, but has maintained his form and was strong to the line for Vlad Duric to score a head win in his first try at 1600m.

"It has been a bit stop and start with him but he's just such a genuine racehorse. He's a real giver, he's a real trier and those sort of horses get these wins,” said Peter Snowden.

"The preparation I gave him, I've been doubting myself all week and when we didn't front up last week I thought it would be too hard a job but the horse that beat him I think has won two since he him.

"It is tremendous effort. Good effort by the team again to come up and keep him up. I've got to say that I was worried. They weren't the instructions we gave there before the race, to get that far back.

"But he rounded them up quick and he was very strong late."

Retained to race by his breeder, Xidaki is the best of four winners from four foals to race from minor winning General Nediym mare Athanea, who claims blue hen Lady Giselle, the dam of Zabeel as her third dam. This branch of the family has also produced dual Group I winning sire Hallowed Crown.

Athanea has been a regular visitor to Widden Stud and had a filly by Trapeze Artist last spring and was then covered by Portland Sky.

Xidaki is one of 17 Australian stakes-winners this season for Zoustar, who will cover a full book this spring at a fee of $275,000.

Race Result - Winx Guineas Gr3 1600m

Sunshine Coast Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:38.81
1
Xidaki
- 3g Zoustar (AUS) x Athanea (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: V Duric 57
2
0.1
Miss Aria
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Bonaria (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damien Thornton 55
3
1.1
Know Thyself
- 3g The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Mantra Of Life (USA) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: P Messara & L Gavranich Rdr: Zac Lloyd 57
4
1.4
Emmadella
- 3f All Too Hard (AUS) x Ambar (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
5
3.9
Cifrado
- 3g Encryption (AUS) x Madame Fly (AUS) (Excites (AUS))
Tnr: R G Lipp Rdr: M Rodd 57
6
4
More Trouble
- 3g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Mawhooba (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Jack Bruce Rdr: Rachel King 57
7
6
Winsome Star
- 3g Star Turn (AUS) x So Stylish (AUS) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: J G Symons & S Laxon Rdr: R Dolan 57
8
9.3
Dangerous Liaisons
- 3f No Nay Never (USA) x Fantasize (AUS) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: A Mallyon 55
9
9.6
Sharp Dazzler
- 3g Red Dazzler (AUS) x More Than Sharp (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Tony & Maddysen Sears Rdr: Angela Jones 57
10
9.9
Becamo
- 3g Vancouver (AUS) x Role Model (NZ) (Bel Danoro (AUS))
Tnr: S A Dwyer Rdr: Cejay Graham 57
11
10.9
Watermelon
- 3g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Quench The Thirst (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: R H Dart Rdr: J Byrne 57
12
11.9
Ringer's Reward
- 3f Under The Louvre (AUS) x Matilda's Dance (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: K R Kemp Rdr: S T Collett 55
13
12.4
Meat Pie Artie
- 3g Flying Artie (AUS) x Oriental Ruby (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Ron Stewart 57
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were six heats for juveniles at the Randwick trials on Friday and some interesting unraced winners including a $1.45million colt by Extreme Choice and a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly bred to win an Oaks..
Expensive Ghaiyyath Colt Wins Stakes
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) had his first Australian winner earlier this week and overnight produced a new stakes-winner in the UK where Godolphin owned colt Opera Ballo won the Listed Heron Stakes (1m)at Sandown.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Derby
It’s been 15 years since Dariana thumped the colts to win the Queensland Derby (2400m) in 2010 and maybe it’s time for another filly to triumph!
Canberra Guineas Winner for Zoustar
The $165,000 Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m) produced a thrilling finish with the favourite Port Lockroy edged out by up and coming Zoustar gelding Xidaki.
Sires With Winners - Friday May 30
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Investing in Fillies Can Pay Big Dividends
We saw it earlier this month at Inglis Chairman’s Sale and we saw it again this week, purchasing yearling fillies that can perform to a high level has the potential to yield a big pay day in the sale ring, so let’s take a closer look.
King’s Legacy Filly Wins by Three
The Lindsay Park team produced an impressive juvenile winner at Pakenham on Thursday evening with King’s Legacy filly Bella Pietra winning as she pleased.
One to Watch – Bendigo
A flashy chestnut filly with a bit of the Apache Cat’s about her was an eye-catching five length debut winner at Bendigo on Friday for the Ciaron Maher stable.
Debut Winner for Kings Legacy
King’s Legacy posted a seventh first crop winner on Friday with a fast finishing debut victory at Goulburn for talented gelding Nothing But Net.
First Winner for Palace Pier
Kingman’s Champion 3YO Miler Palace Pier(GB) was a one term shuttler to Australia for Darley in 2022 and that crop will race next season, but in the meantime he had his first Northern Hemisphere winner overnight at Haydock.