Injury fears surrounding high-profile colt Zoustar have been allayed and he will continue his autumn campaign.
There were concerns after Zoustar finished eighth in his highly anticipated return in Saturday’s Canterbury Stakes but trainer Chris Waller has had the colt examined with some mild lameness detected in a hind leg.
The lameness has been graded 0.5 to 1 on a scale of 1 to 5 which may have been caused from the colt losing his footing.
Waller has told stewards he will continue to monitor Zoustar closely and follow veterinary recommendations ahead of his next scheduled start in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes on April 5.
Zoustar is expected to run in a barrier trial on March 31 with the intention of getting him to settle off the speed.
He raced closer than normal in the Canterbury Stakes and jockey Jim Cassidy said he was on the fresh side.
Cassidy also thought that while the track remained at dead, the storm which dumped rain and delayed the race may also have had an effect.
Plans for Zoustar since he claimed his second Group One victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes in November have been centred on a two-start Sydney program ahead of a trip to England for the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket.
Valued at $18 million after the Coolmore, Zoustar is potentially worth much more as a dual-hemisphere stallion.
He is so far the only Group One-winning colt left by Northern Meteor who died prematurely late last year after his first crop earned him the title of leading first season sire.
