Written by Paul Vettise
Genuine sprinter Zoutori (Zoustar) has performed with distinction at the highest level and he is in prime order in his bid for Group 1 honours when he runs in the William Reid S. at The Valley on Friday evening.
The 4-year-old has progressed through the ranks with success in the G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality in the spring and has come back better than ever and his work ahead of the Keogh Homes-sponsored feature has been first class.
Zoutori resumed last month with a runner-up finish in the G1 Oakleigh Plate and didn’t get the best of runs when fourth in the G1 Newmarket H.
“He got back on the inside second last and the winner (Pippie) was able to dictate and in a good rhythm. Our bloke got left a bit flat-footed and was waiting for everything to unfold before he could go anywhere,” said Simon Zahra, who trains in partnership with Mathew Ellerton.
“He missed the boat a bit waiting for things to pan out in front of him. He’s going really well and has improved and we just hope he gets a bit of luck.
“He worked really well on Tuesday morning and I can’t believe he’s at 35 to one to be honest. There will be no horse hitting the line harder than him, that’s for sure.”
“There will be no horse hitting the line harder than him, that’s for sure.” – Simon Zahra
Zahra said exciting times were all ahead of Zoutori, the winner of five of his 19 starts.
“He’s been coming off short spells and going into the spring later this year he’ll be coming off a really good break. He’ll have a bit more weight on him and we can do a bit more with him.
“We’ll wait and see what happens on Friday evening. If he happened to win then we could look at the G1 TJ Smith S. or the G1 Goodwood H. or just put him in the paddock.
“There’s plenty of options and it’s only March and we need to give him a good spell at some stage.”
Zoutori as a yearling
Zoutori was purchased by Ellerton and Zahra for $160,000 out of Amarina Farm’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft and races in the colours of Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing with partners.
His dam Atotori (Haradasun) is a half-sister to the South African Group 3 winner Castlethorpe (Not A Single Doubt) and they are out of a three-quarter sister to the five-time Group 1 winner and sire New Approach (Ire).
Stakes chances
Ellerton and Zahra will also have two other black type contenders on Friday evening’s card with Aristia (Lonhro) in the G2 Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Sunline S. and Mrs Beckham (NZ) (Toronado {Ire}) in the G3 Dynamic Print Group Alexandra S.
Aristia was fifth in the G3 Mannerism S. when resuming and while unplaced in the All-Star Mile, was only 4l off the winner Regal Power (Pierro).
Aristia
“We wanted to be a bit more aggressive in the run, but she got shuffled back further than we wanted to be. Those horses back there were always going to struggle and got off the bit a fair way out,” Zahra said.
“She hit the line quite well and was doing her best work late. Back in quality, it looks a nice race for her. We’ve put the winkers back on to switch her back on a bit more and third-up her fitness should be improved.”
Sound investment
Last season’s G1 VRC Oaks winner proved a smart piece of business for First Light Racing, Ellerton and Zahra and agent Paul Willetts when she was purchased from Vinery Stud’s Inglis Easter Sale draft for $80,000.
From the family of the G1 Flight S. winner Royal Purler (Hector Protector {Ire}), Aristia will be trying to emulate her dam Nakayaa (Tiger Hill {Ire}) who won the G2 Sunline S. in 2011.
Aristia as a yearling
Mrs Beckham won consecutive races at Caulfield at the back end of her summer campaign and was a respectable seventh when returning in the G2 Kewney S.
“We had a foot problem with her and knew she would improve off the run the other day. She over-raced a bit and I thought she was really, really game to hang on,” Zahra said.
“She probably had enough 100 metres out, but stuck to her guns. She’s going to need a bit of luck from the gate and if she begins well she could cross, but she relaxes better with a sit and a bum to follow.”
Raced by prominent New Zealand breeder Kevin Hickman, Mrs Beckham is a daughter of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Posh (NZ) who hails from the family of the multiple Group 1 winners Melito (Redoute’s Choice), Grey’s Inn (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Smart Call (SAF) (Ideal World {USA}) and sire Zeditave.
