The Bjorn Baker-trained sprinter Zoufame has the potential to significantly aid super sire Zoustar in clinching another stallion premiership, provided he can win the Cactus Imaging Handicap (1100m) at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
Zoustar, a prominent stallion at Widden Stud, is the current reigning Champion Sire in Australia and has experienced another remarkable season.
While Zoustar is expected to finish second to Snitzel for the Champion Sire title in the 2025/26 season, he remains a strong contender for the nation’s leading sire of winners.
So far this season, Zoustar has produced 161 winners, placing him in a tight three-way battle for the premiership with Capitalist (165 wins) and Toronado (163 wins).
“Zoustar’s had another great season,” Widden Stud supremo Antony Thompson told Racing And Sports.
“He’s second in terms of prizemoney and also individual stakeswinners to Snitzel, and he’s right in the mix for leading sire of winners.
“With nearly $21 million prizemoney overall, he’s had another cracking season.
“It would have been fantastic to seal a great year for Zoustar with a win by Joliestar at Royal Ascot but she went very close, unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.”
Joliestar, who achieved a close third in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot to conclude an outstanding season where she was Zoustar’s top performer, secured victories in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes and TJ Smith Stakes, accumulating nearly $5 million in prizemoney.
Although Zoufame may not be in Joliestar’s class, the promising three-year-old sprinter is the current $3.70 favourite to achieve consecutive wins at Randwick.
Baker’s charge, Zoufame, was placed in his initial two appearances before returning at Warwick Farm late last month to achieve a decisive victory over 1100m in impressive time.
Zoustar also has four other runners at the Randwick meeting, including Thunderlips ($9) and Astero ($23) competing in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1400m).
Thunderlips, a stablemate of Zoufame, is racing on a quick back-up after finishing ninth in last week’s General Salute’s Winter Stakes and should benefit from the drop in class, while Asterio is fitter having had two runs since a spell.
Zouripper ($7.50), another progeny of Zoustar, is set to compete in the Kieran Moore Handicap (1000m).
The Joe Price-trained Zouripper has shown improvement after two starts this preparation and indicated he was nearing winning form with a narrow second to Ready To Shine at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
If you’re looking to get involved in the action, exploring the latest Australian betting sites could offer great insights into the odds for this race.