.png?itok=Msxj6N_R)
Zougotcha added a pair of G2s to her pedigree page and earned her connection two services to emerging young stallions during the prestigious Darley Princess Series for three-year-old fillies this spring.
At the same track on Saturday, 1 October, the daughter of Zoustar could win her first G1 and snare another valuable stallion service when she lines up in the final leg of the series - the G1 Darley Flight Stakes over 1,600m.
Bred and still part-owned by Antony Thompson at Widden Stud in partnership with Robert Anderson of RMS Bloodstock Trust, Zougotcha won the G1 Darley Silver Shadow Stakes (1,200m) on Saturday, 20 August and the G1 Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1,400m) on Saturday,17 September.
⭐️Group 2 win for 3yo ZOUSTAR filly ZOUGOTCHA!⭐️
— Widden (@widdenstud) August 20, 2022
Congratulations to breeding partner Robert Anderson!
Widden born, raised, sold & part owned👊🏻
$500k @inglis_sales Easter yearling purchase for @cwallerracing @MulcasterBS #Zoustar https://t.co/d2xiH565GK
The filly did not contest the second leg of the series on Saturday, 3 September, the G2 Darley Furious Stakes (1,200m) won by the Rosemont Stud and Fern Vale Farm-bred North Star Lass for co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
The first two Legs of the @DarleyAus Princess Series to Zoustar 🌟 His 32nd stakes winner North Star Lass wins the Gr2 Furious Stakes at Randwick for @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott. Congratulations breeder @RosemontStud, @ryanjmcevoy out of stakes-placed Sheila's Star (Snitzel). pic.twitter.com/7NyPIxytxt
— Widden (@widdenstud) September 3, 2022
As sponsors of the prestigious series, Godolphin Australia managing director, representing the Darley stallions Vin Cox said he was again delighted with how the series had progressed and the impressive bloodstock on display.
“I was personally thrilled that Antony Thompson and Robert Anderson, who are close friends of mine and good friends of Godolphin, have taken out two legs,” Cox said.
“It’s a great result for them as they have been good supporters of ours and will continue to be so.
“Rosemont Stud is also one of our best supporters so, from our perspective, we couldn’t be happier with the winners, results and the people involved.
“Hopefully they and their families will be in the Godolphin suite at Royal Randwick on Saturday.”
Zougotcha has now banked two black-type victories with her breeders receiving free services to Darley’s World Champion Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) and Champion Two-Year-Old Earthlight (Shamardal). North Star Lass earned her owners valuable black-type and her breeders a service to the dual G1 winner Victor Ludorum (Shamardal).
Both fillies will now race for the chance of G1 glory, while the winning fillie's breeders will receive a service to the five-time G1-winning World Champion Miler Palace Pier (Kingman).
But the Flight Stakes is shaping as the hardest race of the 2022 series, with G1 winners Fireburn and She’s Extreme, plus well-performed ex-New Zealand filly Wolverine, also in the field.
“The equal favourite is the reigning champion two-year-old (Fireburn), who was also bred by a very good supporter of ours in Laurel Oak Bloodstock,” Cox added.
“It will be an exciting culmination of a series which has contained some very valuable fillies.
“And Palace Pier, he’s a stallion befitting of the G1 status of this race being a nine-time winner - five at G1 level.”
Palace Pier ($55,000, GST inclusive), Ghaiyyath ($27,500), Victor Ludorum ($24,750) and Earthlight ($22,000) are all standing at stud for Darley in NSW and Victoria this season.
