Flemington mission calls for million dollar reject Zarastro as sprinter hits straps in Aurie’s Star
It’s a long wait until the Magic Millions, with Tony Gollan seeing no point in sending a fit and winning horse to the paddock following a last start demolition job.
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One time million-dollar reject Zarastro is finally living up to his price tag and his trainer Tony Gollan is keen to strike while the iron is hot with a hit-and-run mission to Victoria.
The former Coolmore-owned colt is racing in career-best form for his new trainer in Queensland as a gelding and Gollan says he will make a perfect straight track horse at Flemington on Saturday in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star (1200m).
With the best part of six months until the Magic Millions in January, Gollan saw no point in sending Zarastro to the paddock following his bullocking last-star victory in the Group 3 Healy Stakes (1200m).
“It is such a long time to wait for the summer, he is a Magic Millions horse, so we want to have a red hot crack there with him,” Gollan said.
“With a nice fit and healthy horse that is just hitting top form, I thought it was pointless to put him away, it was worth the trip.
“He is a big, strong, bold galloper, so I don’t think straight racing will be a problem for him, but you never know until you put them down it.
“He can get out to 1350m, the way he builds momentum through a race … I think that style of racing suits him.
“I have always felt he would make a good straight horse.”
Zarastro caps a stellar day for @tonygollan and Ange Jones in winning the G3 W.J. Healy Stakes to close out Tattersall's Tiara day. pic.twitter.com/soRaKLgYlc
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 29, 2024
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Gollan won the race more than a decade ago with Temple Of Boom and said while it was easy to target weaker races early in the spring, it was harder to win them.
“You think they might come up weak, but then you have to try and win it still,” he said.
“I won it with Temple Of Boom (2012), so any interstate race is hard to win, but I think this horse has the right type of profile to win.”
Jamie Kah will take the reins from Angela Jones on Saturday in what Gollan said would likely be a one-off run.
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“After racing through the winter he has that good residual fitness there that maybe some horses don’t have early in the spring,” he said.
“At this stage he is just down there for the one run, it is about giving the horse the experience of travelling, a bit like Barbie’s Sister.
“He is in Sydney with Barbie’s Sister at the moment, he will float down early in the week.
“He was great in the Healy, we are hoping for a reasonable track at Flemington, most of them are pretty good in Melbourne this time of year unless some rain comes down.”
Originally published as Flemington mission calls for million dollar reject Zarastro as sprinter hits straps in Aurie’s Star
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