Right to Party Goes From Last to First in G3 Aurie’s Star

Tara Madgwick - Saturday August 3

With slick Queensland visitor Zarastro setting a strong pace in the lead at Flemington on Saturday, Zoustar mare Right to Pary was allowed to settle back and bide her time, finishing with a brilliant late rush to seize victory in the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Right to Party wins the G3 Aurie's Star - image Grant Courtney

Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Right to Party has been on an upward spiral during the winter months racking up back to back wins at Flemington in June and July with a last start victory in the Listed VRC Creswick Sprint Series Final.

Facing a soft track for this engagement, she handled the ground easily for Jye McNeil and was strong late doing her best work on the line to win by a length.

“We liked her from day one but she just wasn't doing it and we were probably training her wrong," Anthony Freedman revealed.

"To Sam's credit, he's turned this mare around."

Flemington has been a factor in the burgeoning success of Right to Party with the straight track proving just to her liking in allowing her to win three on the trot.

"She is obviously great up the straight and a bigger field will suit her, too," he added.

Advertisement

"If she can get into one of those big sprints, she could potentially do some damage right down in the weights.

"She's got into the winning habit now and obviously the races down the straight have really opened doors for her."

Right to Party is now a two time stakes-winner - image Grant Courtney

With four wins and five placings from 12 starts and prizemoney topping $311,000, Right to Party has started the season on a winning note and looks set to progress to better company as the spring unfolds.

Right to Party is a homebred for Jonathan Munz and runs in the Pinecliff Racing colours. She is a half-sister to Group III winner Big Party and Group placed sprinters Top Me Up and General Groove being the sixth winner from seven foals to race from top producing Dehere (USA) mare De Groove, a sibling to Group III winner Taikun and stakes-winner Super Groove.

She is the first stakes-winner of the new season for Widden Stud’s marquee sire Zoustar, who will cover a full book at $275,000 this spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Aurie's Star Hcp Gr3 1200m

Flemington Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:09.81
1
Right To Party
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x De Groove (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
Zoustar
2
1
Zarastro
- 6g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Jamie Kah 58
I Am Invincible
3
1.8
It'sourtime
- 7g Time For War (AUS) x Zedoble (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 57.5
4
2.2
The Astrologist
- 8g Zoustar (AUS) x Aquada (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: B Shinn 57.5
5
4.2
Nicolini Vito
- 7g Nicconi (AUS) x She's Cherryrype (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: L Currie 56
6
4.7
Rocketing By
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Across The Moon (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: David Pfieffer Rdr: M J Dee 56
7
5.4
Crosshaven
- 7g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 54.5
8
6.9
La Danseuse Rouge
- 5m Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Margaux (IRE) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: Carleen Hefel 54
More Reading...
Derby Dreaming for Crown of Russia
Danny O’Brien already has one promising winner by his former G1 star Russian Camelot (IRE) in the stable in Censori and on Sunday at Bendigo he unleashed another.
Zoustar Mare Wins G2 Gilgai
Progressive Zoustar mare Right to Party keeps stepping up through the grades and her liking for the straight track at Flemington delivered another feature win when she arrived on the line to win the Group II VRC Gilgai Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Stakes Goals Ahead for Supido Mare
Astute trainer David Payne is no stranger to G1 success and has always held Supido mare Shohisha in high regard and she showed the potential of better things to come this spring when powering home to win the Benchmark 94 event over 1600m at Randwick on Saturday.
New SW for Zoustar – Right to Party Wins Listed Creswick
It’s been a big week for Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar, who clocked up his 200th winner of the season on Friday and he put the icing on the cake with a new stakes-winner when talented filly Right to Party powered home to win the $175,000 Listed VRC Creswick Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
G1 Haydock Sprint Cup Upset
Wathnan Racing were expecting to win the Group I Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) overnight with short priced race favourite Lazzat, but the best he could manage was fifth behind progressive three year-old colt Big Mojo.
Ka Ying Rising Straight to Everest Quarantine after Return Romp
Hong Kong Champion Ka Ying Rising was headed straight to quarantine to prepare for the Group I The Everest after another stunning performance when resuming for the new season on Sunday at Sha Tin.
Best On Breeding
Up until the running of the Group III Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast on July 14, a matter of pennies separated Zoustar and Dundeel for Champion 3yo Sire.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Stakes Success for Impending - Cool Memory Wins Listed Farnley
A son of Larneuk Stud's value Lonhro stallion Impending, five year old Cool Memory bolted in to claim his second stakes win and bring joy to favourite backers on a rain-drenched Saturday at Belmont Park.
Pericles Turns Back the Clock
Six year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles won the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) two years ago in 2023 when trained by James Cummings and he repeated the effort at Randwick on Saturday, but this time he is in the care of Bjorn Baker.