Zoustar Stakes winner born and raised at Tweenhills

Zoustar colt King of Gosford has well and truly taken off in his new career in the US, following up his allowance win in March when winning the $100,000 John Shear Stakes (Black Type) over 6.5f at Santa Anita on Sunday.

King of Gosford had won a handicap over 7f at Dundalk in Ireland last October, when trained by Andrew Oliver for Mr N. W. T. Dalzell. He ended is time in Ireland on another positive note when beaten a length in another competitive race there and has taken his form up several notches in North America.

Now trained by Philip d’Amato for owners Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, Michael and Jeremy Peskoff, King of Gosford overcame a slow start to make most of the running in the John Shear in the hands of former UK-based rider Antonio Fresu.

King of Gosford was born, raised and grazed at Tweenhills and is by Tweenhills stallion Zoustar of a mare by former Tweenhills stallion Harbour Watch.

King of Gosford’s dam Miss Sugars was a Stakes winner in the US herself. She changed hands again in 2022 and had a filly by Kameko sell as a foal to trainer Chelsea Banham in 2023, and has a colt by Kameko entered in the upcoming Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale.

The success was part of a truly international weekend for Zoustar, who also sired Espionage to win the Gr.3 Widden Kindergarten Stakes in Australia and is the leading sire at the Inglis Easter Yearling!