Trainer Sarah Zschoke has graduated to the big league after favourite Eduardo provided her with a first stakes race win at Caulfield.
Stepping out for his fifth race start in Saturday’s Group Two Caulfield Sprint, Eduardo handled his more experienced rivals like a seasoned veteran.
Ridden by Zschoke’s partner Brian Park, Eduardo, the well-backed $2.90 favourite, raced to a three-quarter length win from She Knows ($10) with Bons Away ($5) a half-length away third.
Zschoke prepares six horses at Cranbourne and while she said she has a nice team of horses, Eduardo is the stable star.
“He’s my first Group horse and here he is winning a Group Two race here today,” she said.
“It’s fantastic.”
Zschoke knew early on she had a horse of potential with the times he was running on the training track before going on to his first two starts at Moe in June and Sandown the following month.
After starting an apprenticeship in Tasmania where she rode a winner at her first ride, Zschoke headed to the sales and purchased her first horse.
“I thought I’d go to the sales, buy a horse and thought who better to train it than myself,” she said.
“I went for my trainers’ licence in Tasmania, stayed there for a year and then moved over here.
“There’s a lot more racing opportunities over here and it’s the best move.”
Zschoke, who has been in Victoria for seven years, plans to give Eduardo a break until the autumn, saying the five-year-old has done his job.
“He’s had a pretty big prep from his first Moe start with only a short break in between,” Zschoke said.
“I think the horse will benefit from a nice break now and I can bring him back when the tracks are softer.”
