First Hong Kong Winner for Zoustar

Tara Madgwick - Sunday December 30
Zoustar has been riding the crest of a winning wave in 2018 and added a new string to his bow at Sha Tin on Saturday when siring his first winner in Hong Kong.

Aaron Kwok with winning rider Zac Purton - HKJCMaking his debut for the Caspar Fownes stable, three year-old gelding Dancing Fighter was a short priced favourite and showed plenty of pace before kicking on to win the 1200 metre sprint by a neck under Zac Purton.

Dancing Fighter had one trial in Sydney for Chris Waller and finished second before being sent to Hong Kong and he now runs in the colours of Hong Kong celebrity Aaron Kwok, a noted singer, dancer and actor.

A dashing gold hairstyle made Kwok easy to spot despite being swamped by photographers and Fownes was thrilled to score again for an owner he describes as "a gentleman and one of the boys."

"It's great for a guy like Aaron to be involved. He has had success with me before but he loves his racing and it's awesome to see everyone buzzing," said Fownes, who will go forward quietly with Dancing Fighter next year.

"We'll let him develop further but he'll be alright next season."

Dancing Fighter was a pinhook winner and now a racetrack winnerA $375,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Kulani Park draft for Aquis/McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Blue Sky Bstock, Dancing Fighter was a successful pinhook for Rhys and Chloe Smith, who bought him for $100,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft.

Bred by Kia Ora Stud, Dancing Fighter is the fourth winner from Group III winning Danzero mare Permaiscuous.

He is the first Hong Kong winner for Zoustar, whose only other Hong Kong runner is Quadruple Triple, who has placed in five of eight starts and was second in the recent Griffin Trophy.


Advertisment
More Reading...
$500,000 Sword of State Colt Stars at Ready to Run
Cambridge Stud's rising stallion star Sword Of State had buyers’ hearts racing in the early stages of New Zealand Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale with a top class colt selling for $500,000.
Zoustar Heads Roster at Tweenhills Stud
Exciting Australian sire Zoustar will head the roster at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire next year when he makes his second shuttle trip from Widden Stud to the northern hemisphere.
G3 Win for Sunlight Sister
Stakes-placed earlier this year in Adelaide, three year-old Zoustar filly Sisstar has taken a little longer to hit winning form than her famous older sister Sunlight, but she claimed a valuable Black Type success at Flemington on Oaks Day when leading all the way to win the Group III VRC Red Roses Stakes (1100m).
$825,000 Zoustar Colt Tops Record Breaking NZ Ready to Run
Monumental results were witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2025 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Coolmore Secure $500,000 Zoustar Colt
Some people may have wondered at Coolmore’s Tom Magnier paying $500,000 for a Zoustar colt early in the sale at Magic Millions on Wednesday, but when you hear what his breeder John North of Bowness Stud has to say about him you can see why this colt is seen as having serious potential.
Yes Yes Yes's Affirmative Action Ready For Stable's Guineas Defence
Pre-post favourite Affirmative Action will have to overcome a wide gate and a lighter than intended preparation in his shared bid to defend the stable’s title in Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
Zoustar Filly Spoils the Party at the Gold Coast
The Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Queen Kay defeated her better-fancied stablemate Smart 'N' Sexy in Saturday’s $125,000 Aquis Gold Pearl Quality at the Gold Coast, which was not just a blow to punters but looks to have cost the runner-up a spot in next week’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic.  
November Foals? Time to Breed a Winner with Aquis
November breeding reminders, here’s the truth… some of the best are born late.
Hong Kong and Chinese buyers dominate Ready to Run Sale
Buyers from Hong Kong and mainland China were an unstoppable force on the second day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
G1 CF Orr Stakes - Two of Them in 2025 - Not All Change is Bad!
Flemington is done and dusted for another year, but Melbourne’s Spring carnival rocks on and programming changes continue, with the relocation of the MRC's time honoured G1 CF Orr Stakes from its traditional February slot.