Smart Bennett Racing Zoustar mare Zasou kept her unbeaten run for the Phillip Stokes Stable when winning at Geelong on Wednesday. The 4yo mare was taking on the boys this time and coming back in distance to 1300m since her brilliant win at Sandown 28/9 over 1400m. In her 1st start for the stable Zaszou was an easy winner at Seymour over 1200m 15/9.
At Geelong the mare jumped well under Daniel Stackhouse and he positioned the mare beautifully on the rail behind the leaders. Always travelling well, Daniel just bided his time and around the home turn he had Zaszou ready to strike. When a gap appeared he simply eased the mare out, waited until she was balanced and put the race away close to the line with a powerful sprint. Such a great moving mare with a lovely long stride she certainly is a pleasure to watch and when held up for that sprint she is electric.
The time was good for the good 4 rating and Zaszou justified favouritism with a relatively easy 0.5L win. Daniel Stackhouse has partnered the mare in her last two wins. He seems to have a very good repour with her as she travels well for him and always looks comfortable in the bridle.
There is nothing better than a mare in form and once they seem to hit it they generally hold form for a while. This was another terrific win by this progressive mare – not dissimilar to her previous win at Sandown. She will now head to the Gr3 Mares race on Cup Day. She is absolutely racing in rare form and her ability to accelerate and then sustain her run has her staring Black Type in the face.
Phillip StokeS was naturally very pleased with her effort and feels with her rating climbing up he may look at a blacktype race over the Flemington Carnival.
Zaszou is a beautiful physical very typical of a good Zoustar mare. A very genuine mare with 4 wins in 9 starts along with 3 3rd placing Zaszou took her earning to over 127k with promise of more to come.
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 3 from 3.