Zourhea starts Oaks campaign at Rosehill
While Zoustar continues to make a name for himself as a sire of sprinters, trainer Gerald Ryan has one of his progeny he hopes will be a Classic contender.
Zourhea, who runs over 1300 metres at Rosehill on Saturday, is on a path to the Australian Oaks.
She has had three starts for wins at Goulburn and Hawkesbury over 1600 and 1800m respectively.
“I’m not sure but I don’t think there are any other Zoustars that have won over 1600 metres and further,” Ryan said.
“She is a half sister to Harper’s Choice and is a nice staying filly. I have no doubt she will get the 2400 metres of the Oaks and so that’s the plan if she’s good enough.
“But we have to get her rating up to get her there.”
The Ryan-trained Harper’s Choice ran second to Jon Snow in the 2017 ATC Australian Derby after leading until the final stages over the 2400m on a heavy track.
He is by Street Cry with the pair out of Oxigenada.
Zoustar sired the Group One trifecta in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in November when Sunlight beat Zousain and Lean Mean Machine.
He is standing his first northern hemisphere season at Qatar Racing’s Tweenhills Stud.
The Ryan stable’s former apprentice, James Innes Jr, will ride Zourhea, Miss Celebration and and new acquisition Platinum Tycoon who has formerly raced in Far North Queensland.
Kerrin McEvoy will be aboard Pipeline who runs over 1350m.
Ryan trained Pipeline’s dam Dances On Waves to win five races including the 2010 Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m).
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