Charge looking to be Zoustar’s 1st winner

Chris Waller is hoping Charge can become the 1st winner for his sire Zoustar when he runs in Sydney.

Chris Waller is loath to talk up his juvenile stock, but has no issue reminiscing about the sire responsible for potential Golden Slipper contender Charge.

The colt takes his next step towards the world’s richest race for two-year-olds in April when he looks to become Zoustar’s first winner in a 2YO Plate (1200m) at Warwick Farm.

A $450,000 yearling at the Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast in January, Charge is Zoustar’s fifth starter since the dual Group One-winning sprinter retired to stud in 2014.

Waller trained Zoustar throughout a nine-race career which yielded six victories and $1.4 million prize money, primarily through winning the Golden Rose and Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2013.

Sydney’s leading trainer took Zoustar to Royal Ascot three years ago but a leg injury meant he was unable to race before he returned home to stand at Widden Stud.

Waller was devastated at the time and still remembers the now seven-year-old fondly.

“Zoustar was a natural galloper, a brilliant race horse.

“His ability, attitude and temperament make him a tremendously special horse to me,” he said.

Charge ran third on debut at Rosehill over 1100m on December 9 after being slowly away before over-racing and copping a check near the 600.

Despite those setbacks he showed enough promise to give Waller confidence he can make further progress on Saturday.

Waller had the choice to run Charge in Thursday’s Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m), but the track and distance made him opt for Warwick Farm.

“I feel this horse needs a bit of help and I don’t think racing over a 1100 metre journey to every corner on the race track is what he needs,” Waller said.

“He just needs to jump and settle and at Warwick Farm there’s just the one short bend so he can run in a straight line basically for 700 metres.”

Waller said the BOBS incentive was another reason to stay in Sydney.

“With the BOBS bonus it basically makes every Saturday race like a Listed Race anywhere else,” Waller said.

“If he could win, the BOBS money will help qualify him for the Golden Slipper and the Magic Millions.”

Charge, who jumps from barrier two with Blake Shinn aboard, was the $2.60 favourite with the TAB on Thursday.

Godolphin colt Condemned, one of three newcomers in the field of nine, was the $4 second elect.

A couple of hours after Charge runs, another Zoustar progeny will be in action at the Gold Coast with the Tony McEvoy-trained Sunlight trying to cement her spot in the Magic Millions.