Debut Zoustar 2YO Winner Brings Catalogue Update

Tara Madgwick - Monday June 9

Bjorn Baker, Rachel King and Zoustar combined to win the 2YO fillies maiden at Canterbury on Monday with well bred Zoustar filly Pillow Fight, who has a half-sister to be offered at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale on Friday.

Pillow Fight had shown good potential at the trials and delivered on race day, producing a tenacious effort to run down the leader Rosa Incanta to take the 1250m contest by a head.

Pillow Fight is a winner on debut - image Bradley Photography

Bjorn Baker’s stable representative Luke Hilton revealed the daughter of Zoustar had always been held in high regard.

Advertisement

“She's always been a lovely filly. We've had a good opinion of her, but the more Bjorn's done with her, the better she's got,” he said.

“He's been patient with her. He's given her a number of gallops at home and she's had some good trials, and she's just got better and better. She's got a great attitude, very relaxed, but she's an exciting filly. I think she's got a big future.”

 

Rachel King has ridden the filly in her two most recent trials and knows her well.

“It probably wasn't ideal sort of facing the breeze down the back, but she's a very casual customer,” said King.

“She jumped well today, but went straight to sleep early and even though I was facing the wind she wasn't spending any unnecessary energy.

“I had to get her moving probably even sooner than I wanted to just because I know she's the type of filly that does take a little bit of winding up.

“She's always had that good level of ability, but her attitude helps her because she is super relaxed about life in general. She's only going to improve. I probably didn't quite expect her to do it today, but it’s a nice surprise.”

A $375,000 Magic Millions purchase from Newgate Farm for Bjorn Baker Racing/Cunningham Thoroughbreds/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA), Pillow Fight is the fourth winner from four foals to race from Group III placed Snitzel mare Slumber Party.

Bred by Go Bloodstock, Slumber Party comes from the Singles Bar branch of the famed Easy Date family that has produced Group I winners King’s Legacy, Oohood and champion sire Not a Single Doubt.

Slumber Party was on-sold through Inglis Digital in January 2024 and was purchased by Durham Park for $255,000 in foal to Justify (USA).

Lot 228

She produced a filly from the mating that will be offered by Durham Park at Inglis Great Southern as Lot 228.

Slumber Party is now in foal to So You Think.

Advertisment

Race Result - Chase The Dream Mdn Plate 1250m

Canterbury Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:15.53
1
Pillow Fight
- 2f Zoustar (AUS) x Slumber Party (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 56
2
0.1
Rosa Incanta
- 2f Per Incanto (USA) x Latin Rose (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 56
3
0.5
Sequista
- 2f D'argento (AUS) x I'm A Jewel (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tim Clark 56
NZB Ready To Run Sale $0
Seller: Riversley Park Ltd
Buyer:
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2 $80,000
Seller: Bowness Stud, Young, NSW
Buyer: Riversley Park
4
0.9
Long Legs
- 2f Russian Revolution (AUS) x Fabvier (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: A J Calder 56
5
2.2
The Pearls
- 2f Proisir (AUS) x The Pearler (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
6
3.2
Regal Problem
- 2f Endless Drama (IRE) x Chase Of Fame (AUS) (Statue Of Liberty (USA))
Tnr: Lyle Chandler Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56
7
3.4
Sharbino
- 2f Saxon Warrior (JPN) x Morning Bay (AUS) (Dawn Approach (IRE))
Tnr: G R Nickson Rdr: Molly Bourke 54
8
3.8
Fiery Lass
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Lope De Lope (AUS) (Lope De Vega (IRE))
Tnr: R J Quinton Rdr: Reece Jones 56
9
4.3
British Gem
- 2f Wootton Bassett (GB) x Miss Que (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J R Collett 56
10
4.6
Funky Tilda
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Another Sunday (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 56
11
6
Lightness
- 2f Proisir (AUS) x Jazamour (NZ) (Azamour (IRE))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: W F Pinn 56
More Reading...
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.
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.
Pedigree Watch – 3YO Plus That G1 Late Bloomer
Saturday delivered another exciting instalment of early spring racing with three stakes races for 3YO’s and once again all of them were won by new first time stakes-winners that were virtually unsighted at two and we also had a new G1 winner, whose path to the top has been anything but smooth.
$1.2million for Mare in Foal to Frankel
There are four mares to be offered at Magic Millions National in foal to Juddmonte Farm’s champion sire Frankel and the first of them Grande Dame (GB) sold for $1.2million to James Bester Bloodstock/Morning Rise Stud.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 7
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Ones to Watch – Bendigo
At this time of year, you tend to take special notice of well-bred 3YO debut winners and three of them arrived at Bendigo on Sunday that were all interesting for different reasons and none more so than one who has a name that has become infamous this year.
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.
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.