The 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes hot pot Zoustar will continue to be trained by Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller following the announcement that Widden Stud has purchased the Group 1 winning colt.
Chris Waller will continue to trainer Zoustar for the Autumn. Photo Taron Clarke.
Widden Stud wrapped up a deal which is reportedly worth around $20 million for Zoustar to replace his ill-fated sire Northern Meteor at the world renowned stud with Waller to remain his trainer with a 2014 Autumn Carnival on the agenda.
Zoustar is a raging hot favourite for the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday and while he will race under the ownership of Widden Stud, jockey Jim Cassidy will wear his current Navy, White And Silver Iskander Racing colours.
“Chris Waller will of course continue training him and has indicated that Zoustar is a rare type of animal that could be just as explosive over 1200m to a mile thus giving us plenty of options to consider for him in the autumn,” Widden Stud head Antony Thompson said.
“He will run this Saturday in the ownership of Widden Stud and remain in the colours of Iskander Racing for his final run this campaign.”
Thompson is glad that he could replace Northern Meteor with one of his Group 1 winning sons following his untimely death in July due to a colic attack with Zoustar ready to immulate his sire who won the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2008 when trained by Gai Waterhouse.
“He’s a horse we’ve been following since day one and it’s been very exciting to watch his career unfold from a debut win at two to being the best three year-old sprinting colt of his generation,” Thompson said.
“Northern Meteor made such a huge impact for us in the short time that we were lucky enough to have him, so it seems only right that his best son should follow in his footsteps and join us at Widden.”
Northern Meteor was an instant success at stud claiming the title of the 2012-13 champion first-season sire courtesy of his Group 1 winning sons Zoustar and Romantic Touch.
Cassidy will be striving to win his one hundredth Group 1 on Zoustar who is marked as the $1.95 favourite in the Coolmore Stud Stakes market order with Queensland filly Missy Longstocking the only other runner under double figures at $8.50.
Caulfield Guineas runner-up Divine Calling is next in the betting at $12 just ahead of Peter Snowden’s colt Sidestep at $13 and Not Listenin’tome at $14.
