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...
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.