Five-year-old gelding Regal Zeus rediscovered his winning groove on Sunday, claiming the $200,000 Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m) in emphatic fashion after earlier snaring the Listed Bendigo Golden Mile in April.
Prepared by John McArdle and partnered by Daniel Stackhouse, Regal Zeus controlled the tempo in front and powered clear in the straight to score by a commanding four lengths.
The decisive success lifts his record to nine wins and six seconds from 30 starts, with career earnings now surpassing $850,000.
A $150,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Regal Bloodstock / Blue Grass (FBAA) / Redgum Racing from the Edinburgh Park draft, Regal Zeus was bred by Ian Smith and is the best of two winners out of Group III-placed Quiet Kitten (USA). She hails from the family of stakes-winner Darling Alice, whose daughters have produced Group II winner Glenfiddich and stakes-winning $2.4 million earner Eleven Eleven.
Quiet Kitten was offered in the Edinburgh Park Dispersal at the 2023 Magic Millions National Sale, where Kingstar Farm secured her for $120,000. They later sold a Zoustar yearling colt out of the mare for $200,000 at Inglis Classic this year. After missing in 2023, Quiet Kitten visited Ozzmosis—Zoustar’s Group 1-winning son—and this spring delivered a three-quarter brother to Regal Zeus.
Regal Zeus becomes the fifth Australian stakes winner this season for reigning champion sire Zoustar.
