Well bred Bennett Racing 4yo Zaszou showed an electric turn of foot when winning at Sandown on Saturday. The daughter of Zoustar was having just her 2nd start for Phil Stokes and coming of dominant debut win for the stable at Seymour earlier in the month. With Thomas Stockdale suspended, Daniel Stakehouse took the reins on the mare and after stepping a little slowly he drove her up along the rails to be in touch with the leaders. The 4yo settled well throughout the race and Daniel just needed some luck in the straight. Coming to the 200m mark, he took a split and Zaszou burst through the pack showing a brilliant turn of foot and quickly put the race to bed. Fantastic effort by Phil Stokes and his Team and also to Francesca Christie and her Team at CRC Equine who worked on the mare this prep.
Zaszou has always shown good ability but the change of stables really seems to have done the trick. Phil Stokes feels there is much more to come and perhaps another crack at some valuable blacktype may be on the cards.
Zaszou took her overall record to 8 starts for 3 wins and 3 x 3rds with near 100k in earnings. She was a $200k purchase at the 2022 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Kitchwin Hills Draft. Zaszou is a daughter of Champion Racehorse and sire Zoustar. She is a daughter of the smart multiple Group 3 placed mare Zasorceress a daughter the Champion racehorse & sire Zabeel. Zasorceress is a ¾ sister to to Champion NZ 3yo filly Lafleur dam of the Group 3 winning Amarytllis and Listed winner Papilo. Another½ sister Zygadane is the dam of the Listed winning & Group 1 placed Wildflower. Zaszou comes from an outstanding family with her 4th dam being the Champion Filly Habibti. Habibti was a ¾ sister to Great Klaire (dam of St. Klaire) and Hall Of Fame Broodmare of the Year Eight Carat dam of Champion Octagonal and Group 1 winners Diamond Lover, Kaapstad, Marquise and Mouawad.
Congratulations to all owners in Zaszou and thankyou to Phillip Stokes and his Team for starting Zaszou’s career off with the stable in such incredible fashion, 2 for and now a valuable metro win.
