Zoufame, an emerging sprinter trained by Bjorn Baker, could be the key to propelling super sire Zoustar to yet another stallion premiership if he can win the Cactus Imaging Handicap (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Zoustar, a star resident at Widden Stud, is the reigning Champion Sire in the country and has enjoyed another phenomenal season.
While Zoustar is expected to land in second place behind Snitzel for the Champion Sire title in the 2025/26 season, he is still in contention to be the nation’s leading sire by winners.
Zoustar has sired 161 winners this season and is currently 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 finished a close third in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, concluded an outstanding season as Zoustar’s most successful performer, with victories in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes and TJ Smith Stakes, earning close to $5 million in prizemoney.
Zoufame may not be in Joliestar’s class, but the promising three-year-old sprinter is the $3.70 favourite to achieve successive wins at Randwick.
Baker’s Zoufame was placed in his first two starts before returning to Warwick Farm late last month for a convincing win over 1100m in quick time.
Zoustar also has four other runners nominated for the Randwick meeting, including Thunderlips ($9) and Astero ($23) in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1400m).
Thunderlips, a stablemate of Zoufame, is racing on a quick back-up after finishing ninth in General Salute’s Winter Stakes last week and should appreciate the drop in grade, while Asterio is fitter after two runs from a spell.
Zouripper ($7.50), another son of Zoustar, is contesting the Kieran Moore Handicap (1000m).
Joe Price’s Zouripper has shown improvement after two runs this preparation and indicated he was nearing winning form with a close second to Ready To Shine at Rosehill two weeks ago.
For those keen to back a winner, the racing betting markets for this event are sure to be competitive.
