Qatar Bloodstock Become Partners in Zoustar

Electrifying three year old Zoustar is back in full work and progressing ahead of schedule in what is likely to be his final campaign before retiring to Widden Stud in 2014.

ZoustarZoustarFollowing on from brilliant victories in the Group A ATC Golden Rose and Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes, thus becoming the first horse to complete the double, a plan was put into place for the son of Northern Meteor to take on Europe's premier sprinters at the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting in June.

Widden's Antony Thompson is naturally excited about Zoustar's upcoming campaign and also explains the details of a new international partner in the horse.

Thompson said, "Zoustar's breath-taking performances in the spring caught the attention of Sheikh Fahad and he has negotiated to purchase an interest in Zoustar on behalf of Qatar Bloodstock in what is a major show of support for the Australian breeding and racing industries."

Qatar Bloodstock was founded in 2010 by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani who has already enjoyed great success in Australia through outstanding stayer Dunaden.

"I was able to inspect Zoustar with my bloodstock advisor David Redvers following his dominant win the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. This colt represents everything that is great about Australian horses. He is strong, masculine and incredibly fast and I am very excited about the prospects of him racing in Europe and ultimately retiring to stud," commented Sheikh Fahad.

Qatar Bloodstock advisor David Redvers noted that Zoustar's Coolmore Stud Stakes victory was some 1.2 sec's quicker than Buffering's Group One WFA win a week later

It was also interesting to note that his time was 1.3 sec's quicker than his sire and grandsire Northern Meteor and Encosta de Lago clocked in their Coolmore victories.

Thompson added, "We're delighted to have Qatar Bloodstock's involvement alongside Widden and Woodside Park. Their distinctive silks of claret with gold plaits have, in a short period of time, been carried to success in a number of feature races and it will be these silks that Zoustar will carry into his final campaigns here in Australia and hopefully Europe."

Widden Stud have also sold a 25% interest in Zoustar to Woodside Park and he will stand the second and fourth seasons at their farm in Victoria under what is a ground breaking deal.

"Woodside Park are a progressive farm and I have no doubt the Victorian breeders will ensure Zoustar covers outstanding books," Thompson said.

Having close access to a colt such as Zoustar highlights a mouth-watering opportunity for Victorian breeders explains Woodside's Managing Director Mark Rowsthorn.

"We are very excited about the arrival of Zoustar in Victoria. We have received terrific support to date from the local breeding industry and the Premier of Victoria and Racing Minister, The Hon. Denis Napthine is particularly enthusiastic about the horse's prospects," said Rowsthorn.

Zoustar will have a gallop between races later in the month before trialling in February and Thompson explains that the brilliant colt will likely stay in Sydney for his final Australian campaign.

"Chris (Waller) is delighted with how he has come back from a spell. The horse didn't have much of a break from last winter leading into the spring and you can see just how much he has benefited from an extended break. At this stage the plan is to have three runs in Australia with the Gr1 Canterbury Stakes 1300m, Gr1 T.J Smith 1200m & Gr1 All Aged Stakes 1400m on the agenda before a possible campaign in Europe."

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