Godolphin mar Zapateo has emerged from Golden Slipper Day a Group 1 winner following her notable upset in the 2024 The Galaxy results at Rosehill Gardens.

2024 The Galaxy winner Zapateo enjoyed a notable Group 1 upset in the sprint for the Godolphin stable. Photo: Steve Hart.

The final elite level on the card, this year’s Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) attracted a bumper field including returning Coolmore Stud Stakes winning colt Ozzmosis.

In a horror return from the youngster, he reared at the jump with Rachel King losing her footing and put himself out of contention before he’d even stepped onto the track finishing an eventual 14 lengths back last.

Matthew Dale’s The Kosciuszko winner from last October, Front Page, meanwhile took up the lead fresh while jockey Kerrin McEvoy had the James Cummings-trained Zapateo settled well fourth in the run.

Front Page went for home on the straight in the short-distance feature with the challenge coming from his inside in the form of the Annabel Neasham-trained favourite Sunshine In Paris.

Late on the scene launching down the outside however was Zapateo with the five-year-old daughter of Brazen Beau racing out of her skin the closing stages as a forgotten runner at 25/1 in betting.

She held strong late crossing the finish line first to go one better than her lead-up second in Randwick’s Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m).

“It’s so important for Zapateo. She’s a phenomenal racehorse by Brazen Beau and she just needed that Group 1 on her CV,” winning trainer Cummings told the media after the race.

“She was very good first up, I know she was beaten by Kallos but we had great faith that there was improvement in her and a month into the weight-for-age run in the Challenge last start, she was good.

“She beat home the stablemate (Aft Cabin) who was the tip horse out of the stable.

“Kerrin gave her the run of the race and it makes all the difference in a handicap.”

Zapateo had a head to spare over four-year-old Sunshine In Paris ($5.50F), winner of last year’s Group 1 Surround Stakes, with the mares running the quinella.

The pacemaker Front Page ($13) held for third to complete The Galaxy trifecta in a good return.

Zapateo could next be seen stepping up in grade for a shot at Randwick’s Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 6.

No horse has won The Galaxy – TJ Smith Stakes autumn sprint double since La Baraka (1998).

Zapateo is at a current quote of $21 in all-in 2024 TJ Smith Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to be the next with markets available in full here.

2024 The Galaxy Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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