Having already captured the Rosebud with promising colt Zoukerino, John O’Shea has unveiled another potential Golden Rose contender in Zou Tiger.
The colt made a one-act affair of his first-up assignment at Kensington on Wednesday, bowling along to lead the 1300m race comfortably then lengthening stylishly when James Mcdonald asked for an effort in the straight.
Next stop will be the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill on September 10 with O’Shea confirming Zou Tiger’s performance there will determine whether he presses on to the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m).
“That will give us a feel for where we’re going to slot in,” O’Shea said.
“I think him competent enough to be a progressive horse heading towards both the Golden Rose and the (Caulfield) Guineas.
“He’s got a racing pattern that will suit both Rosehill and Caulfield so hopefully as he stretches out (in distance), he continues to do everything well and he’s got a nice, bright future.”
Zou Tiger is a half brother to dual stakes winner Daisies and was a $200,000 yearling purchase at last year’s Inglis Classic Sale.
O’Shea admitted he thought something must have been amiss with the horse when he turned up outside the major sales as he boasted such an appealing page, being a son of top stallion Zoustar out of talented mare Tigress Lily.
“I thought there must have been an issue with him when he was at Classic with his beautiful pedigree,” O’Shea said.
“He probably snuck under the radar a little bit and we were lucky enough with (owner) Ron (Finemore) and his syndicate to be able to buy him.”
Zou Tiger ($1.75 fav) trounced his midweek rivals by 3-3/4 lengths with The Englishman ($9.50) doing best of the rest to hold second, a long head in front of Zakiyya ($31).
Barn mate Zoukerino gets another opportunity to press his Golden Rose claims when he clashes with Golden Slipper runner-up Best Of Bordeaux in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
