Females bring more Stakes success for Zoustar

Another big weekend of racing in Australia, more Stakes winners for Zoustar.

At Caulfield on Saturday, Sisstar went another step to breaking away from the shadow of her full sister Sunlight when gaining her second Stakes victory in the Listed Widden Victoria Bel Esprit Stakes over 1100m.

After winning her third race on the bounce, Sisstar is being lined up for the A$500,000 Gr.1 TAB Classic (1200m), formerly known as the Robert Sangster Stakes, at Morphettville on May 1.

Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said: “She’s a very versatile, quick mare that can run 955 metres. Today she showed she can run 1100m and I believe she will get 1200m.

“This was a target race to pick up some more black type, now it is on to the Sangster.

Winning jockey William Pyke said: "There was plenty of warning by the whole camp and even Luke Currie [who has ridden Sisstar several times and also rode Sunlight] said ‘Do not fire her up’.

“I suppose they know her spot on and they were right. She’s very brave to run on after over-racing but I suppose that’s her. I think she likes a fight.”

Zaniah became Stakes winner #22 for Zoustar when winning the Listed Ascot Handicap over 1000m at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

It was Zaniah's fourth win overall and her first at Stakes level. Trained by Kris Lees and ridden by Andrew Mallyon, she won by half a length.

Zaniah is out of a mare by Elusive Quality.