Winning debuts for Zoustar fillies

Zoustar sired two 2yo debut-winning fillies on Friday when Couplet looked well above average at Haydock on Friday for trainer Harry Eustace and The Arabda Partnership, and Not Even Close scored at Dundalk for Donnacha O'Brien and Justin Carthy.

Couplet lined up against fillies with experience in the Docklands Trail Liverpool EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes over 6f at Haydock but breezed past them in the closing stages to win by 2¼ lengths in the hands of Pat Cosgrave.

This after meeting some trouble around 2f out too, having to start her run again but sweeping down the near side under hands and heels riding to win very easily. In third was another debutante by Roaring Lion.

Couplet is from the first Northern Hemisphre crop of Tweenhills’ stallion Zoustar and out of Elnadim mare Arabda, who won on her own 2yo debut in Britain before winning a Swedish Listed race over 1m.

Couplet was a €75,000 yearling at the Arqana Deauville August Sale and Not Even Close was even cheaper at £45,000 at the Goffs UK Premier & SIlver Yearling Sale.

Not Even Close, bought by her trainer, made smooth headway to lead over 1f out over 7f at Dundalk and showed useful form in holding off fillies trained by Joseph and Aidan O'Brien.

Not Even Close is the second foal out of Street Cry mare Street Marie and was bred by Yulong Investments (australia) Pty.