The first of four Group 1 races for the day is dominated by Chris Waller’s budding superstar, Zoustar. He opened up at odds-on and given his recent efforts, getting odds better than even money may be wishing for too much. No other runner in the race is in single figures as of Thursday (am) with Sidestep, who has eased early from $9.00 out to $12.00, Divine Calling and one of three fillies in the race, Missy Longstocking ($15.00 into $12.00) all on the second line of betting.
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Coolmore Stud Stakes Form Guide
1. ZOUSTAR – J Cassidy (10)
Winner of five of his seven starts including his most recent two outings – both in outstanding fashion. Drew the widest gate in a field of sixteen for the G1 Golden Rose but, courtesy of a good ride by Jim Cassidy, he was in a position to stake his claim as the field turned for home. He let down in impressive style to defeat Dissident (good in two runs since) by a neck. The Northern Meteor colt than trounced his rival by a 4 ¼ lengths in the Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) three weeks later in emphatic style. Has had a month off since that win but he worked impressively earlier in the week at Flemington and is the one they’ll have to beat.
2. SIDESTEP – K McEvoy (1)
Despite an interrupted preparation last season, this son of Exceed and Excel was still able to claim the G2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) before running a fantastic second behind Overreach in the G1 Golden Slipper. He returned as a three with a luckless fourth (beaten 1 ¼ length) behind Va Pensiero in the G3 San Domenico Stakes before again, finding plenty of trouble at the start in the G1 Run To The Roses where, as a solid $4.80 chance he finished last in the field of fourteen. His most recent run came seven weeks ago now where he finished fourth behind Zoustar in the G1 Golden Rose (1400m). Good effort last start behind some very smart types and the break and return to 1200m should serve him well.
3. FAST ‘N” ROCKIN – B Prebble (7)
Commencing his spring campaign with an unlucky second in the G3 Vain Stakes before a strong win in the G3 McNeil Stakes, the David Hayes galloper looked set to fulfil the potential he displayed throughout his 2yo season. His last two starts though, in the G1 Golden Rose and G3 Guineas Prelude where he finished tenth and seventh respectively, were below expectations. Given a month off after the Guineas Prelude and off similar breaks in past, his efforts include a head second in the Todman Stakes and a close up fifth in the G1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) behind Guelph. More than capable of bouncing back with a good effort here.
4. DIVINE CALLING – G Boss (3)
Impossible to fault the form of this Gai Waterhouse runner, especially after Shamus Award’s success in last weekend’s Cox Plate. The son of Stratum defeated Shamus Award two starts back when narrowly winning the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley before again beating him home, when running second to Long John in the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) three weeks ago. Can see no reason, on recent efforts and favourable draw, why he will not be in the mix again here.
5. LION OF BELFORT – D Oliver (4)
This Mick Price trained runner has had four starts to-date, winning his last three with his most recent victory in the Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, a very impressive performance. From an awkward position on the home turn the son of Statue of Liberty was steered by Damien Oliver through a narrow gap inside the final 100m and that was all the opportunity he needed, winning with plenty up his sleeve on the line. Steps up in class again here but he has improved significantly at each of his starts and who is to say there’s not more to come here?
6. ÉCLAIR BIG BANG – D Tourneur (2)
An Adelaide galloper that produced a strong effort when running third behind Charlie Boy in the G2 Danehill Stakes at his first Victorian outing three starts back. Three weeks later, he secured a lovely run from a good draw behind a genuine tempo when successful in the G3 Guineas Prelude (1400m), defeating El Roca and Long John. Drew well again in the G1 Caulfield Guineas at his last start and sat on the speed but capitulated in the straight and finished last of fourteen and over twenty lengths form the winner, Long John. Obviously has ability and best to judge him on his previous efforts rather than his last.
7. THERMAL CURRENT – B Rawiller (8)
After running seventh in the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) back in September, the Peter Moody trained galloper had a brief let-up of six weeks. He returned in last week’s Telstra Stakes where from a good draw, he was able to settle on the leader’s back. As the field turned for home, the Exceed and Excel colt was under a hold but with nowhere to go. A narrow gap on the inside of the leader was enough for him to push through with 100m to go and he extended well to hold off the challenges of Not Listenin’tome and Selectify and win by a head. Probably should’ve won by more than he did last week but this is the top grade and he’ll need to have improved again.
8. NOT LISTENIN’TOME – D Dunn (5)
Promising Dylan Thomas gelding who, after winning his first two starts in impressive style, was sent out the 5/4 in last week’s G3 Telstra Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. The Team Hawkes representative settled three back on the fence and just had to wait for a fraction as the field headed into the turn before his run came. When it did, he closed very well and finished a head second to Thermal Current. Has displayed above average ability in his three starts but meets some of the top line 3 year olds here.
9. MISSY LONGSTOCKING
Winner of her last three starts for Queensland trainer Liam Birchley including, at her most recent outing, the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m). Despite racing wide for the duration of the race, the daughter of Sequalo won with authority on the line, defeating Anatina by a comfortable three lengths. With that win under her belt, there’s no better time for her to take on the boys and whilst she’ll give a good account of herself, as she always does, would expect one or two of the males to get the better of her.
10. VILLA VERDE – J Bowman (9)
Kicked off her career this time last year with impressive wins in the Debutants Stakes and 7news Plate but, in five starts since, hasn’t been able to register her third win. Drew wide when resuming from twenty-three week spell in the Nine West Plate and ran a credibly half length second to Iconic. Three weeks later, at her most recent start, she lined up in the Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) and finished a close-up fourth behind Lion of Belfort and Safeguard. Again, drew wide and took up the front running role last start, doing well to stick on as well as she did. Better ridden with a sit but even with that kind of run in transit here, hard to see her accounting for some of these.
11. THUMP – C Williams (11)
Broke her maiden status (at her seventh start) when resuming form a spell in the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm at the end of August. She has been able to maintain that form in two subsequent runs by finishing within a neck of Bound for Earth and Guelph in the G2 Furious Stakes (1200m) before a dominate all-the-way win last start in the G3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. Likes to run along out in front and will endeavour to make the most of the weight advantage she has over the males here. The final half a furlong, at this level, will be her big challenge.
RACE OVERVIEW
Sidestep and Divine Calling to go forward with the two fillies drawn out wide, Thump and Villa Verde, also pushing forward. Just can’t go past Zoustar here. At each of his seven starts, the Chris Waller trained runner has been getting better and better and last start he reached a new level altogether. He was brilliant in the Roman Consul and admittedly he meets a better field here but, even winning by the margin he did last start, he still had plenty up his sleeve. Hard to imagine that a horse who has won the Bill Stutt and ran second in the Caulfield Guineas in his last two starts – both times defeating subsequent Cox Plate winner Shamus Award is at $12.00. He does drop back in distance but this will be run at a good clip, he is fit, obviously in form and has class. Thought we’d see an improved effort here from Fast’n’Rocking who has been freshened up. Like the fact they’ve come back to 1200m here where his record includes a second in the Blue Diamond, fifth in the Golden Slipper and three starts back, victory in the G3 McNeil Stakes. Sidestep has had no luck this time in but from the inside gate, he should be able to find a trail and little trouble. Lion of Belfort is the query runner for mine. Improving with every run and his last start was impressive.
- ZOUSTAR
- DIVINE CALLING
- SIDESTEP
- FAST’N’ROCKING