On a day when Widden Stud’s Zoustar produced the $5.25million top seller Zougotcha at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale he also sired a new Group I winner in North America where King of Gosford won the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (1m) at Santa Anita.
The four year-old stallion started his racing career in Ireland colt, but has made rapid progress since transferring across the Atlantic to the stable of Phil D’Amato last year.
King of Gosford blossomed to win several stakes races in 2024 including the Group II Mathis Mile (1m) on turf at Santa Anita and has taken another leap forward this year.
The handsome chestnut finished hard with a well timed run under Flavien Prat to snatch a head win in a thriller.
“I thought they were going fast enough in the first quarter,” said Prat.
“Once the field started to spread out, we started to pick it up on the backside. I was just hoping they would come back to me. I thought about going inside, but knew he would have a good turn of foot, so we went around them and he got there.”
King of Gosford has the overall record of seven wins and five placings from 17 starts with prizemoney in excess of US$719,000.
A 32,000 guinea purchase from Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 3, King of Gosford is the best of two winners from stakes-winning Harbour Watch mare Miss Sugars.
He is the 11th Group I winner for Zoustar and is his second in North America joining G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust (GB), who is shuttling to Riverstone Lodge in the Hunter Valley this spring at a fee of $27,500. Click for more info on him.
