One To Watch – Wagga

Dane Squance - Thursday May 1

A filly closely related to a four-time Group 1 winner from a strong Kembla Grange form race has impressed at just her second start, winning with ease.

The opening event at Wagga’s two-day carnival, the Budget Riverina 2YO Showcase Handicap (1200m) turned into a one act affair as Torryburn Stud’s homebred Zoustar filly Stardom dashed clear to win by more than three lengths.

Third on debut in a Kembla Grange maiden which is turning out to be a strong form race as the Peter Snowden trained winner Akaysha (Capitalist) has since gone to town and finished a close up second behind promising Farnan colt Grand Eagle, while the runner-up Beadman (Snitzel) went on to break his maiden at his very next start by just shy of two lengths.

Straight to the lead from a wide barrier, jockey Jett Stanley was happy to maintain that position throughout, sprinting clear in the home straight to break her maiden by a tick over three lengths.

Noted working home strongly into second was the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton trained Zousain colt Buckeye, giving the Widden Stud-based father-son duo a one-two finish.

Retained to race by breeder Torryburn Stud, Stardom is the third winner out of the Group 3 ATC PJ Bell Stakes winner Diddums (Snitzel), herself a half-sister to the four-time Group 1-winning, Hong Kong superstar Voyage Bubble (Deep Field).

Advertisement

Speaking to Torryburn Stud’s Stud Manager Mel Copelin, it was clear from day one the filly was something special.

“The filly was a standout since birth and we had followed the momentum of the Waterhouse and Bott stable,” stated Copelin. “We had promised a filly to the stable, and Bruce Slade and Adrian selected her from the paddock.”

“As an early looking runner from the start, she was always earmarked to be retained and with Voyage Bubble continuing his outstanding run in Hong Kong, she was one we didn’t want to let go.”

After missing to Maurice the following season, Diddums foaled a filly by Swettenham Stud’s Toronado and is due to foal a full sibling to Stardom in the next breeding season.

Zoustar, the sire of Thursday's impressive 2yo winner Stardom

The sire of 65 stakes winners highlighted by 10 individual Group 1 winners, Zoustar currently sits in second position on the Australian General Sires’ table, with the Widden Stud based sire set to stand at a fee of $275,000 (inc. GST) in the spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Budget Riverina Showcase Hcp 1200m

Wagga Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.71
1
Stardom
- 2f Zoustar (AUS) x Diddums (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jett Stanley 56.5
2
3.2
Buckeye
- 2c Zousain (AUS) x Miss Amelia (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: K Mc Evoy 58
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Cressfield, Scone, NSW
Buyer: Psd $250000 Res $275000
3
5.4
Judith's Revenge
- 2f Brutal (NZ) x Miss Ladybird (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: T P Donnelly Rdr: M A Cahill 55
4
5.8
My Inspiration
- 2f Admire Mars (JPN) x Bring A Ring (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Travers Rdr: Amy O'Driscoll 53
5
6.9
Stormy Reign
- 2f Time To Reign (AUS) x Polemos (AUS) (Declaration Of War (USA))
Tnr: Luke Pepper Rdr: Q Krogh 55
6
8.3
Deekaygeebee
- 2g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Dip Dye (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: C D Widdison Rdr: N Souquet 59
7
9
Wonderful Mistake
- 2f Flying Artie (AUS) x Wonderful Thing (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: G P Vella Rdr: Regan Bayliss 57
8
9.5
Cherry Jubilee
- 2f Russian Revolution (AUS) x Monistique (AUS) (Astronomer Royal (USA))
Tnr: T J Wilson Rdr: Sinead Peebles 52.5
9
10.4
Aisle Two
- 2f Shooting To Win (AUS) x Think I'll Keeper (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: R & L Price Rdr: B Mc Dougall 55.5
10
11
Aerial Response
- 2g Microphone (AUS) x Night Witches (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: K Dryden & L Snowden Rdr: Rebecca Bronett Prag 55
11
13.6
Classic Azabeel
- 2f Cool Aza Beel (NZ) x Classic Choice (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: Doug Gorrel Rdr: Molly Bourke 55
12
14
Calpastatin
- 2g Churchill (IRE) x Hippeia (AUS) (Henny Hughes (USA))
Tnr: T P Donnelly Rdr: Carly Frater 57
13
17.2
Nero's Fire
- 2g Prized Icon (AUS) x Randwick Bound (AUS) (Beautiful Crown (USA))
Tnr: K P Weir Rdr: J Kissick 57.5
14
19.6
Aquilino
- 2g Cliff's Edge (AUS) x Maghro (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: P J Facoory Rdr: Ashley Morgan 56.5
More Reading...
Stunning Frankel Stallion Diego Velasquez Retired to National Stud
A memorable winner of the 2025 Group I Prix Jacques le Marois, flashy Frankel stallion Diego Velasquez has been retired and will take up stud duties at the National Stud in 2026.
Shamus Award Mare Quintessa Shooting for Another G1
Te Akau has been forced to take an unconventional path to Ellerslie with Quintessa and are confident the high-class mare will strip in the best possible order, given the circumstances.
2025 G1 The Everest Field and Barrier Draw
Hong Kong champion and odds-on favourite Ka Ying Rising has drawn barrier seven for the Group One The Everest to be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Zoustar Filly Wins First Stakes for Torryburn
A homebred for Torryburn Stud, talented Zoustar filly Stardom opened her Black Type account at Scone on Saturday in the $200,000 Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes (1100m) to the great delight of her breeder John Cornish, who was at the track.
New Vendors Step into NZB Ready to Run Sale Spotlight
The horsemen and women who prepare two-year-olds for the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka every November are internationally renowned as some of the very best in the world at what they do, and a new generation will join them next month as first-time vendors.
2025 Nolan Scholarship awarded to Mackenzie Porter
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) is delighted to announce that the 2025 Nolan Scholarship has been awarded to TBA Fast Track graduate Mackenzie Porter.  
Melbourne Cup Dream Hangs in Balance for Sharp 'n' Smart
Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign hangs in the balance, with his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie dictating whether he continues on that path.
900,000 Guineas Starspangledbanner Filly Tops Second Day of Book 2
Australian bred Starspangledbanner is riding high this year siring 12 stakes-winners in 2025 headed by his dual Group I winning filly Precise and he produced the top lot during the second session of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with Islanmore Stud’s stunning chestnut filly fetching 900,000 guineas to become the second highest priced filly in the sale’s history.
Black Type Next for Exciting Hello Youmzain Filly
Kelly Van Dyk’s Prima Park Bloodstock will be represented on both sides of the Tasman this week, from the sales ring in Sydney to the big stage at Ellerslie on Saturday.
$1.35m Easter Purchase Chicama Wins Warwick Farm Opener
A half-brother to Champion 3YO Filly Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Written Tycoon colt Chicama appreciated not only the step up to 1400m for the first time to break his maiden, but a change to the Joe Pride yard appears to have also done the trick.