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

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.

Advertisement

"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.

Advertisment

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
Zoustar
2
0.1
Miss Aria
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Bonaria (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damien Thornton 55
Zoustar
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...
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.
Godolphin Draft Headlines Huge Inglis Digital July (Early)
A 26-strong Godolphin draft, a G1 placed 3YO with credentials for the $10m Golden Eagle and shares in multiple other G1 performers including dual G1 winner Overpass headline a huge catalogue for the Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Sale.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 11
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
Debut 2YO Winner for Brutal
Fresh from siring a smart metro winner at Sandown on Wednesday in Brutalina, Brutal was in the frame at Scone on Friday where Brett Cavanough unleashed a promising two year-old debut winner in Bird Whistle.