Written by Georgie Dennis
After almost a year since she last raced, the Chris Waller-trained Haut Brion Her (Zoustar) picked up where she left off as she took out the G2 Sheraco S. at Rosehill on Saturday, putting herself in the picture for a spot in the $15 million The Everest.
Last seen winning the G2 Blazer S. at Flemington on October 5 last year, she settled in second behind Sweet Deal and as the daughter of Casino Prince began to fade at the 300 metre mark, Haut Brion Her kicked away and went on to win by 0.8l.
Jen Rules (Redoute’s Choice) got out late and sprinted home to finish second while Seasons (Sebring) came home another 0.3l away in third.
“She is a high class sprinting mare with a very high cruising speed," jockey James McDonald said.
“She is a high class sprinting mare with a very high cruising speed." - James McDonald
"I think she is very good. She had to do it a tough way today because she didn’t have the best of draws but she overcame that hurdle and she will only improve from here.”
Waller, who took out last year's Everest with Yes Yes Yes, has his own slot for the $15 million sprint feature but said he will think about 'where she fits into The Everest picture’ and make a decision of which horse will run for him in the coming weeks.
"We found the right one last year," he said. "Still a lot to go.
"We saw in the 3-year-old race today there are a lot of things that can change.
"That’s racing so let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Make sure she pulls up well. Have some nice dreams.”
Haut Brion Her winning the G2 Sheraco S.
Haut Brion Her is one of four winners from five to race out of Light Finger S. runner-up One In A Million (Redoute’s Choice), who is also responsible for multiple stakes winner Karacatis (Hussonet {USA}) and Listed scorer Shamillion (Shamardal {USA}).
Her second dam is Listed victor Happen (Zeditave), who herself is a sister to Eskimo Prince H. winner Major and a half-sister to the dam of Group 3 scorer Lightinthenite (Galileo {Ire}).
She is one of 14 stakes winners for her Widden Stud-based sire Zoustar, who celebrated a stakes-double on Saturday as Zoutori took out the G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington.
