Bennett Racings tough Zou Sensation rounded off an outstanding 2025 for Bennett Racing and their owners with a gutsy tough win in the Listed Kensington Stks at Flemington on Wednesday and in doing so smashed through the 1 Mil dollars in prize money!.
Coming off another great run for 4th behind Warnie in the 1 Mil Supernova a few weeks ago, Zou Sensation jumped well under Jamie Kah and sat outside the leader to apply pressure throughout. Down the side and into the straight the 6yo always looked in control and kicked clear on straightening up for home. Jamie had a lap full of horse with 200m to go and when a strong challenge came near the post he simply stuck his head out and comfortably held the 2nd horse on the line by a head.
What a super tough win, well placed by Malua Racing and beautifully rated throughout by Jamie.
This race rounded out a busy year where he competed twice in January in Qld before a break. He then raced again in May and at least once per month since culminating in his 11th start of the prep, on the last day of the year. Amazingly, his form never dipped throughout the prep winning 5 times including the Listed Weekend Hussler Stks in October and placing Gr2 level behind Warnie in the Gr2 Damian Oliver Stks during the VRC Spring carnival, he would go on to place 3rd in the 1 Mil Meteorite before the aforementioned 4th again behind Warnie in the Supernova.
Zou Sensations only ‘blemish’ was a 6th in the Gr1 Rupert Clarke where he had no luck! He banked an amazing $744,025 which took him over $1m a great achievement considering he’s never won a ‘rich’ pop up race – he has earned his loving owners that tally through consistency, courage and a will to compete.
Just a wonderfully talented and tough galloper not dissimilar to another Bennett Racing favourite The Astrologist who incidentally was also by Champion sire Zoustar.
The win took his overall career to 32 starts, 9 – 4 – 5 $1,044,775
Zou Sensation is by Champion Sire Zoustar, Zou Sensation was a 150k Magic Millions purchase from Widden Stud. He is one of only two foals for his dam the Danehill Dancer mare Dame Claire (NZ ) who was a winner of the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes and also the Listed MRC RM Ansett Classic. Certainly bred to stay a distance Dame Claire comes from the family of smart stayer Horrifying and International Group winners many bred by The Aga Khan incl Arcangues, Agathe, Aquarelliste, Artiste Royal, Annenkov, Alamo Bay, Australie, Forgotten Voice, Angara, Actrice, Arlesienne, Galatee, Cape Verdi etc.
Note – The only other foal produced by Zou Sensations dam Dame Claire is the rising 3yo filly Zouclaire by Zousain making her a ¾ sister to Zou Sensation. Zouclaire was a very smart 2nd on debut in the Magic Millions 2yo at Caulfield in 2024 and has since placed again. The promising filly has been transferred to Ciaron Maher.
Congratulations to all owners in Zou Sensation and a big thankyou to the Team at Malua Racing.