The Bjorn Baker-trained sprinter Zoufame is in a position to help propel super sire Zoustar to another stallion premiership, with a potential victory in the Cactus Imaging Handicap (1100m) at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
Zoustar, a leading stallion at Widden Stud, is the nation’s current Champion Sire and has enjoyed another outstanding season.
Although Zoustar is set to finish runner-up to Snitzel for the Champion Sire title in the 2025/26 season, he remains a strong contender for the title of the nation’s leading sire by number of individual winners.
This season, Zoustar has sired 161 winners, placing him in a tight three-way contest 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 a remarkable season as Zoustar’s standout performer. Her victories included the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes and TJ Smith Stakes, amassing nearly $5 million in prizemoney.
Zoufame, while not on Joliestar’s level, is the current $3.70 favourite to achieve consecutive wins at Randwick, demonstrating his potential as a three-year-old sprinter.
Baker’s charge, Zoufame, was placed in his first two starts before a convincing win over 1100m in slick time upon his return at Warwick Farm late last month.
Zoustar also has four other runners engaged at the Randwick meeting, including Thunderlips ($9) and Astero ($23) in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1400m).
Thunderlips, a stablemate of Zoufame, is backing up after finishing ninth in General Salute’s Winter Stakes last week and should appreciate the drop in grade, while Asterio is fitter for two runs since a spell.
Zouripper ($7.50), another son of Zoustar, is competing in the Kieran Moore Handicap (1000m).
Joe Price’s Zouripper has improved with two runs this preparation and indicated he was close to winning form with a narrow second to Ready To Shine at Rosehill two weeks ago.
With the race fast approaching, checking out the racing odds at Australian betting sites might be a good move.
