Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Saturday's G2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes launched the career of soon-to-be Champion Sire Zoustar, and he's not alone with twelve of the last fifteen winners adding more black type after winning the race.
The launchpad of many careers
Not held during the COVID year of 2020, the past fifteen winners of the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes include four geldings, three fillies, and the rest are colts who have gone to stud. This race has proven to be the launchpad for many racing careers with only three horses among the last fifteen winners didn’t train on and add another black type success.
Melody Belle (NZ) winning the G1 Manawatu Sire's Produce Stakes | Image courtesy of Race Images
Only two of the recent winners had a Group 1 win under their belt heading into the race; Broadsiding who added three more Group 1 wins after he won the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and the remarkable mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) who travelled from New Zealand having won the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, won this, and then won 13 more Group 1 races as a 3-year-old and beyond.
Zoustar began his journey to stardom here
Nine of the past fifteen winners already had a black type win under their belt before winning the Sires’ leaving just six who picked up their inaugural black type here, including Zoustar.
Winner of his first two starts, he went into the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes unbeaten, then ran second in the G1 JJ Atkins Plate at his next start after winning the Sires’. At three he won the G1 Golden Rose, G2 Roman Consul Stakes and G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes in succession.
Zoustar winning the G2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“He had a great temperament, a very lovely horse to work with, kind and strong. He kept developing nicely and his attitude never changed. He had a great action and was very good looking. He won the right races for a stallion going to stud,” said Chris Waller.
“He (Zoustar) had a great temperament, a very lovely horse to work with, kind and strong. He kept developing nicely and his attitude never changed.” - Chris Waller
“The reason a lot of horses who train on from this race is because they’ve been given a bit of time. It’s important they get some experience at two to be competitive at three, but in my opinion you don’t want to overdo it if you want a horse to peak at three. Zoustar raced before going up Brisbane but he wasn’t put under pressure until then, and it just brought him on and helped him peak at three.”
This year, the stable nominated Hidden Achievement (I Am Invincible) and United States (Snitzel). “Hidden Achievement is not going to run. He’s drawn wide and will run in Sydney instead. He’ll run in the JJ Atkins which will help him develop.”
United States placed on debut then ran fourth in the G3 Pago Pago Stakes, before heading to Queensland where he comes into the Sires’ off a mid-field run in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic.
United States as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He’s a nice horse. Things went wrong for him in the autumn and the beauty of Australian racing is that we have good racing 365 days a year, and if a horse needs a bit more time he can go to Queensland and get that extra confidence.
“Press Statement, The Autumn Sun, Brazen Beau, Zoustar and Zousain were all similar horses who kept improving at three.”
It’s a big group of horses to compare to, so United States has much to live up to, but he’s got the price tag and pedigree to do it. Sold by Segenhoe Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $1.75 million to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier, United States is the second foal of Warranty (All Too Hard) who was stakes placed at three and won three races. This is the Redoute’s Choice family, with Warranty being a three-quarter-sister to Wahng Wah (Casino Prince), dam of recent Listed winner Street Gossip (So You Think {NZ}) and her full sister G1 Australian Oaks-placed You Wahng.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Two in a row for Aerodrome
Like Zoustar, Michael Freedman-trained Aerodrome (Ole Kirk) is unbeaten in two starts heading into the race.
“He’s well and in good order. He worked nicely on Tuesday morning and came through that well. He jumps on a truck tonight to head up there,” said Freedman.
“He’s (Aerodrome) well and in good order. He worked nicely on Tuesday morning and came through that well.” - Michael Freedman
“From door to door, it’s 10 to 12 hours. For both Brisbane and Melbourne, I like keep them here until the draw because there’s no point going all that way, then drawing 18.”
On training on and whether it takes a different type of horse at this stage of the season than an early 2-year-old. “It’s a combination of things, hard to really know why, but is likely timing. It’s later in the season. But then, this bloke trialled in September, then went a bit shin sore. He was up and going early, so not really a different type to the earlier ones. He’s a gelding now, so will be easier to manage as a 3-year-old (and beyond).”
Aerodrome | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
When it was pointed out that not many geldings have won the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce, Freedman was pragmatic. “Probably not many geldings have run in it being this early in their careers.”
One of the best in the last fifteen years was Shoot Out (High Chaparral {Ire}) who went on to win four Group 1 races at three and older.
