Sydney premiership winning trainer Chris Waller has named the Golden Rose 2013 this Sydney Spring Racing Carnival as the first major aim for his promising young colt Zoustar following their good run in Brisbane last weekend.
JJ Atkins runner-up Zoustar will target the 2013 Golden Rose in the spring. Photo: Daniel Costello.
The Northern Meteor two-year-old has enjoyed a sensational first preparation winning their opening three career starts, the first two at home in Sydney before they stepped up to Group company in Queensland to take out the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) last month.
Waller, who has enjoyed great success this Queensland Winter Racing Carnival including last Saturday’s Queensland Derby victory by Hawkspur, backed the youngster up on Stradbroke Handicap Day in the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m).
It was a brave first look at the mile for Zoustar who crossed just half a length away second behind the Gai Waterhouse-trained favourite Romantic Touch and an effort that showed Waller they are in line for a big spring.
Their main aim will be the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Racecourse on September 15, first acceptances for which close in four weeks’ time.
“They will only get to have two or three weeks out in the paddock before they get ready to tackle the spring,” Waller said.
“The Golden Rose looks like a good race for Zoustar.”
Zoustar will also be joined in the spring three-year-old majors by stablemate Vilanova.
The formerly New Zealand-trained Commands colt was second to Vo Heart first-up in their Australian debut in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at eagle Farm on May 11 before their second to Zoustar in the Sires’ Produce.
They too were far from disgraced at elite level in the JJ Atkins when two lengths away fourth to the winner, Waller to set them on a slightly different campaign next time in than Zoustar believing them capable of getting up over a trip.
Instead of the Golden Rose Waller will focus on getting them ready for the $400,000 Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on October 6.
“Vilanova will be aimed at the Spring Champion Stakes,” Waller said.
“There is not much turnaround time between the winter and the spring but on the plus side they will have residual fitness on their side.”
Before this season’s over however Waller could be looking at bagging one last Group 1 trophy with a possible three-pronged assault on the $500,000 Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 22.
He has already confirmed last Saturday’s Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes winner Red Tracer and June Stakes champ She’s Clean for the classic with Arinosa to prove herself in a couple of track gallops this week.
“Hopefully she comes through (the gallops) well and joins the other two mares in the Tatt’s Tiara,” Waller said of the dual Group winning grey.
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