The past 12 months have been a period of ‘firsts’ for trainer Chris Waller and he has achieved another one with Zougotcha’s stunning win in the Flight Stakes.
Having claimed his first Melbourne Cup with Verry Elleegant and first international major with Nature Strip at Royal Ascot, the champion horseman has now prepared his first Group 1 winner to be sired by a horse he trained.
Zougotcha is by Waller’s 2013 Golden Rose winner Zoustar, making her Flight Stakes (1600m) win extra special.
“Obviously, he is from our stable so that was the first love for the horse at the sales,” Waller said
“She’s just gone from one level to another with each run.
“I was a little bit concerned about how strong she’d be today over the mile, but she was as strong as in each of the other two races.”
Zougotcha remains unbeaten this spring having won three of the four Princess Series races, kicking off with her Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) triumph in August.
Waller opted not to run her in the Furious Stakes (1200m), which was taken out by North Star Lass, before she chimed back in to capture the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and finally, the Flight.
Only two fillies, Angst and Samantha Miss, have made a clean sweep of the series but Waller has no regrets about not giving Zougotcha a chance to join that elite list, pointing out the great Sunline also contested and won only three of the four series races.
“If she is as good as Sunline, she is pretty good,” he said.
Zougotcha ($4.20) scored by two lengths over She’s Extreme ($5) with North Star Lass ($12) another half-neck away third.
Golden Slipper winner Fireburn started a $2.40 favourite and made some late headway but was never a serious threat and finished fourth.
Jockey Brenton Avdulla said the filly never felt like the winner and may not have handled the seven-day back-up from the Golden Rose.
“I was a bit disappointed, 600m out I was never really in the race,” Avdulla said.
“I was out on my feet at the 150m, whether it was the seven day back up (I’m not sure).”
Waller won’t be tempted to continue with Zougotcha this spring and she will be sent for a spell with a view to the autumn.
“We will give her a break now, look after her and we know we’re going to have a pretty serious filly on our hands in the autumn and beyond,” Waller said.
