Promising colt Zousain is on track to emulate his sire Zoustar after his explosive win in the Group Two Champagne Classic at Doomben on Saturday.
Zousain ($9.50) gave trainer Chris Waller and jockey Kerrin McEvoy back-to-back wins in the Champagne when he scored by 2-1/2 lengths from Mishani Hustler ($6.50) with Blue Book ($17) a short neck away third.
Zousain now will be aimed at the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on May 26, a race his sire Zoustar won in 2014 before later going on to Group One success in Melbourne later that year.
“He travelled up from Sydney on Wednesday night and arrived in great order so it’s only been basically maintenance work since he’s been here,” Waller’s Queensland stable manager Paul Shailer said.
McEvoy settled Zousain towards the rear of the field before bringing the colt with a well-timed finish in the straight.
“He was a bit keen early but I was happy with the speed on up front,” McEvoy said.
“It wasn’t really ideal switching back to the inside the way the track has been racing through the day but once he hit the front he pricked his ears and there’s only improvement in him going forward to the Sires and JJ Atkins.”
Shailer said Zousain continued to improve as he gained more experience in races.
“I think today riding him conservatively was the right move and although he was a bit aggressive at various stages he showed a great turn of foot,” he said said.
“Hopefully he can get some confidence from that and obviously Chris brings the right horses here for this carnival and this colt is no exception.”
Zousain will be stepping up in trip in the Sires’ and Atkins but Shailer is confident he will cope with the challenge.
“We’ll work on getting him to switch off in the weeks ahead but he’s a lovely horse and there’s a lot of upside,” he said.
Zousain was Waller’s fourth win in the Champagne. He was also successful with Pressday (2010), Brazen Beau (2014) and last year with Tangled who was also ridden by McEvoy.
