New SW Zoustar – Regal Zeus Wins Listed Golden Mile

Tara Madgwick - Saturday April 12

Rewarded for his consistency, four year-old Zoustar gelding Regal Zeus posted his first Black Type victory at Bendigo on Saturday when taking out the $200,000 Listed Golden Mile (1600m).

Regal Zeus wins the Listed Golden Mile - image Grant Courtney

Trained by John McArdle and ridden by Jamie Mott, Regal Zeus was a last start winner at Caulfield over 1200m, but made light work of a step up to 1600m to lead all the way and win by a head in a tenacious display.

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Regal Zeus was supposed to run in last Saturday’s Group III MRC Victoria Handicap (1400m), which was why he jumped straight from 1200 to 1600m, his effort to win further emphasising the merit to the performance given connections nearly scratched him from this engagement as well.

"He had a little bit of a blood (issue) Thursday afternoon, it was only very slight, but we spoke to the stewards and we reblooded him yesterday and it was OK yesterday afternoon," McArdle said.

"He almost was a scratching. It's probably not his usual routine to go from 1200 to 1600, but he was prepped up for the Victoria Handicap last week, but he drew terrible.

"He's just an incredibly tough horse.

“He's a horse that handles wet or dry ground. He's a real racehorse, and Jamie has obviously ridden him plenty of times before so he knows how to ride him and rode him perfectly.”

Regal Zeus has a big group of happy owners - image Grant Courtney

A $150,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Regal Bloodstock / Blue Grass (FBAA) / Redgum Racing from the Edinburgh Park draft, Regal Zeus has been stakes-placed previously and has the overall record of eight wins from 23 starts with prizemoney topping $686,000.

Bred by Ian Smith, Regal Zeus is the best of two winners from Group III placed Quiet Kitten (USA), a grand-daughter of stakes-winner Darling Alice, whose daughters have had plenty of success in Australia producing Group II winner Glenfiddich and stakes-winning $2.4million earner Eleven Eleven.

Quiet Kitten was sold in the Edinburgh Park Dispersal at Magic Millions National in 2023 with Kingstar Farm picking up the mare for $120,000.

They sold a Zoustar yearling colt from her at Inglis Classic this year for $200,000 and after missing in 2023, Quiet Kitten was covered last year by Zoustar’s Group I winning son Ozzmosis so will produce a three-quarter sibling to Regal Zeus this spring.

Regal Zeus is the 65th stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar.

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Race Result - Bet365 Golden Mile LR 1600m

Bendigo Track: Good(3) Time: 1:35.20
1
Regal Zeus
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Quiet Kitten (USA) (Kitten's Joy (USA))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: J Mott 57.5
Zoustar
2
0.2
Smokin' Princess
- 5m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Gallant Lady (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Patrick & Michelle Payne Rdr: Tom Prebble 54.5
Fastnet Rock
3
1.4
Arran Bay
- 6g All Too Hard (AUS) x Stolen Girlfriend (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: P Gatt 60
All Too Hard
4
1.5
Von Hauke
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Tiara (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: K Jennings 57.5
5
1.5
Pounding
- 6g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Silent Entrance (GB) (Beat Hollow (GB))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Ms L J Meech 59
6
3
Lady Jones
- 5m Toronado (IRE) x Lady Slevoir (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: S V Brown Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
7
3.4
Aramco
- 6g Sea The Moon (GER) x Her Honour (IRE) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Beau Mertens 54
8
3.6
Enxuto
- 4g Lean Mean Machine (AUS) x Innocent I Am (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: R D Griffiths Rdr: L Currie 55
9
3.6
Mission Of Love
- 5m The Mission (AUS) x Hanaan (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: J G Symons & S Laxon Rdr: Carleen Hefel 54
10
3.7
Windstorm
- 8g Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Storm Alert (AUS) (Metal Storm (FR))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: D Yendall 54
11
5.7
Star Vega
- 5g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Pacharana (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: John Allen 56.5
12
7.2
Holymanz
- 5g Almanzor (FR) x Perfect Offering (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M J Dee 60
13
8.7
Rhinoceros
- 6g Vadamos (FR) x Hot In Pink (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: Jett Stanley 54
14
18.7
Rumbled Again
- 7m Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Adulate (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Trotter Rdr: Jordan Childs 55
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