Widden Stud's champion sire Zoustar started Saturday with winners in Melbourne and at the Gold Coast for Magic Millions Day with Lindsay Park unleashing two year-old colt Zestiman for a debut win at Flemington, while Zoumeteor won the $500,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m).
Zestiman has the distinction of being the cheapest Zoustar yearling sold at Inglis Easter last year when he was snapped up for just $115,000 by Dream Thoroughbreds / Bluegrass Bloodstock (FBAA) / Lindsay Park from the Yarraman Park draft.
He’s obviously been showing good ability and went out favourite for the open juvenile event over 1000m and finished off with a well timed run to score a determined long neck win.
“It was a terrific debut and was a great ride by Luke Currie to keep him in a rhythm and he was strong late, so it was a relatively straight forward race,” said Will Hayes.
“He’s a Zoustar colt and we’re keeping the dream alive. We’ll see how he pulls up, but it’s a great time of year to have a 2YO winner, so he’ll progress through the Blue Diamond Preludes and Previews if he’s up to it and so far so good.”
Zestiman is the second winner from Estijmaam, an unraced Exceed and Excel daughter of Group II placed Sean Baile Mor.
Making it a double for Zoustar was four year-old gelding Zoumteor, who led all the way to win the $500,000 MM Country Cup (1200m) for the Stuart Kendrick stable.
From multiple stakes winner Kakakakatie, Zoumteor has now won five of his 13 starts, with Saturday’s victory taking his prizemoney earnings beyond $370,000.
Kendrick said he was rapt to win a lucrative Magic Millions feature for a group of loyal owners.
“It’s a big thrill,” Kendrick said.
“We’ve got some great owners in this horse that have been really supportive.
“Angie got him across terrific and he’s got such a high cruising speed this horse, he’s a tough bugger and he kept giving.
“He’s a massive, big striding horse and when he gave that kick at the top of the straight, it gave us something to cheer about.”
Zoumeteor was bred by Gerry Harvey and offered in the Westbury Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he passed in after failing to meet his $150,000 reserve.
Zoumeteor’s half-brother by Ole Kirk is Lot 1211 at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and will be offered by Baramul Stud on Monday.
Kendrick, who trains on the Sunshine Coast, has been active during the first four days of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with three purchases, including Lot 600, a Snitzel filly from Baramul Stud’s draft that was secured for $350,000.
