A winner on debut at Warwick Farm back in March, Lean Mean Machine was third in two subsequent outings in Group company, albeit luckless on each of those occasions.
The Chris Waller trained colt drew wide for this 1350 metre assignment, so was
allowed to drop back early and find his feet by Corey Brown before powering
home along the inside.He hit the line hard to win by three-quarters of a length over his stablemate Zousain, who won his last start in the Group II BRC Champagne Stakes.
"He's a beautiful horse," said Corey Brown.
"I haven't been on one as good as him for a long time. He's all class."
Zoustar won the Group II BRC Sires Produce Stakes for the Waller stable in 2013 before going on to finish second in the Group I BRC JJ Atkins Stakes, a race that will see a rematch for Lean Mean Machine and Zousain.
"Lean Mean Machine is a very good horse," Waller said.
"He had no luck at the Gold Coast at his previous start and I told Corey (jockey Brown) to ride him like he was the best horse and go straight back from his bad barrier today."
In contrast to his previous run when he won from off the pace, Zousain led in the Sires' and Waller said that had not suited him.
"He is still getting used to going from the 1200m races to the 1350m. But he will improve for it," Waller said.
A $250,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase from the Glenlogan Park draft for Aquis, Blue Sky Bloodstock/Raffles Racing who race the colt in partnership, Lean Mean Machine carries the Raffles colours.
With two wins and two placings from four starts and prizemoney topping $221,000, Lean Mean Machine is the third
takes-winner for Zoustar, who will be Australia's Champion First Season sire
for 2017/2018.Bred and offered for sale by Glenlogan, he is the second winner for juvenile stakes-winner She's Meaner, a half-sister by Falvelon to $1.3 million earner and sire Love Conquers All from Group I winner She's a Meanie.
Lean Mean Machine is the last foal from She's Meaner, who died in 2016.
Zoustar stands at Widden Stud this spring at a fee of $60,500 and his 2018 yearlings, 78 of them, have averaged $196,955.
He had 15 weanlings sell at average $161,667 at the Gold Coast this week making him the third leading sire by average.
