Class mare bypasses Group 1 feature but can add the Phar Lap stakes to her impressive CV for her breeder and owners
Zougotcha is doing her part for the success of her family tree which has deep roots in Widden Stud’s proud history.
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What do Bing Crosby and The Duff have in common?
Apart from both being on the Tele, Bing and the Duff have cameo roles in the Zougotcha story.
Of course the real stars, apart from the mare herself, is the Thompson family.
The founders and still landlords of Australia’s oldest stud, Widden, Zougotcha’s family tree is almost as old as the nursery itself.
Zougotcha is an eighth generation daughter of Medmenham who was foaled in 1924.
Her mating to Widden’s then supreme stallion, Heroic, resulted in Ajax, who is honoured with his own race set down later on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens.
Ajax was bred by Alfred W. Thompson.
Zougotcha was bred by the modern day A. W. Thompson, aka Antony, who bought the Chris Waller-trained mare’s dam, Fast Talker, off the Dufficy brothers - Ron and Rod.
“We have another daughter of Fast Talker here, The Actuary, who has a nice Zoustar colt and is in foal to Zoustar as well,” Thompson said.
Zougotcha will get more opportunities to increase her Group 1 tally, just not in Saturday’s Coolmore Classic.
“We were disappointed we didn’t draw a better alley and run in the Coolmore but I am sure she will give a good sight in the Phar Lap.”
So where does Bing Crosby come in?
Ajax stood at Widden from 1941 until 1948 when he was sold and exported to America where he was later on-sold to Crosby.
THE BEST BARRIERS
The best barriers at Rosehill Gardens for the last three years (in order of wins)
1100m: 3,1,6,8
1200m: 2,7,5,3
1350m: 2,5,9,1
1500m: 5,1,4,6
1900m: 4,1,3,7
2000m: 6,2,1,4
THE BIG BETS
Race 1: Jacquine Reward $26-$19-$18-$17-$15, Border Control $8-$6.50-$7
Race 2: Zulfiqar $11-$8.50-$9-$8.50-$8, Maharba $3.60-$3.20 ($700 at $3.80, $740 at $3.70, $1,000 at $3.50), Shinzo $6-$5-$4.60-$4.80
Race 3: Finepoint $4.60-$4-$3.90-$3.80-$3.60-$3.40-$3.30-$3.40 ($625 at $4.20, $689 at $3.90, $800 at $3.30), Dynamic Impact $8-$8.50-$7.50-$7-$6.50-$7 ($800 at $7.50), El Rocko $51-$41-$26-$23-$26-$17, Tonneofgrit $15-$10
Race 4: Blanc De Blanc $4.60-$3.60 ($550 at $4.60, $700 at $3.80, $740 at $3.70), Tiz Invincible $11-$8-$8.50 ($300 at $11, $250 at $8)
Race 5: Athelric $4.60-$4-$4.20 ($550 at $4.60, $1,000 at $4), Clemenceau $3.70-$3.60-$3.50-$3.20-$3.10 ($1,500 at $3.70, $900 at $3.20, $1,000 at $3.10)
Race 6: Zougotcha $2.30-$2.25-$2-$1.90-$1.85-$1.80-$1.65 ($1,200 at $2.25, $1,500 at $2, $2,224 at $1.90, $2,355 at $1.85, $1,000 at $1.70)
Race 7: King Frankel $4.60-$4 ($795 at $5, $500 at $4)
Race 8: Ruthless Dame $11-$8-$7.50 ($400 at $8), Espiona $11-$9.50 ($550 at $10, $500 at $10)
Race 9: Ascension $8-$5, Waterford $3.70-$3.80-$3.90-$3.80-$3.70-$3.90 ($600 at $3.90, $2,000 at $3.80, $800 at $3.80, $500 at $3.70)
Race 10: Major Beel $6-$5.50-$4.60 ($500 at $6 TWICE, $500 at $4.60, $250 at $4.60), Stroke Of Luck $8-$6.50-$6-$5.50 ($429 at $8, $400 at $6)
BEST BET
Tiz Invincible (race four) could end up being a sale-ring steal despite her $550,000 price-tag at Easter in 2022. For starters, the Maher/Eustace-trained filly is a daughter of I Am Invincible out of a mare who is a half-sister to Anamoe. Tiz Invincible is bred to win a Guineas or even an Oaks - and she might - but she’s plenty quick too. Take note, she has also accepted for Sunday’s Black Opal Stakes.
NEXT BEST
Godzilla (race two) is a half-brother to a Hong Kong’s outstanding dual Group 1 winner Contentment and a close relation to Align who split Catbird and Shogun Lodge in the 1999 Golden Slipper. Godzilla is more a Sires’/Champagne style two-year-old and a long range Golden Rose horse. Tipped out after a great debut in the McLachlan and had trialled well again since.
PRICE CHECK
Yearning (race eight) won a Newcastle Maiden on September 17 last year and not even a full month later, came from last to take out the Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas. Fast forward to more recent times and the Team Hawkes trained mare was one of the eye-catchers in the Group 2 ATC Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick. For one, Yearning is going to relish the step up to 1500m and she does appear to be very attractively weighted on 52kg bearing in mind she shouldered 58kg when we saw her at Randwick.
TRIAL WATCHERS
Miss Einstein (race one) is a seven-year-old mare who was bred to win an Oaks, though she never did of course. The now Sam Kavanagh-trained mare is by 2013 ATC Derby (and Triple Crown winner) Dundeel out of a daughter of 2004 AJC Derby winner, Starcraft. As for Miss Einstein, she has won four races and placed eight times in her 23 starts. During that time, she has more or less ‘competitive’ when up against the likes of Subpoenaed, Threeood, Enchanted Heart, Opacity et al. Saturday marks her first run for Sam Kavanagh who has her ready and able to perform in the Midway off a couple of decent trials last month.
Finepoint (race three) has been ridden by James McDonald three times and won every time. Kind of makes his booking an important one for this exceedingly well-bred and valuable mare. Valuable because she has a Group 3 placing in the Angst on Everest day last year behind Hope In Your Heart who will have plenty of friends in the Coolmore Classic on Saturday. A daughter of Pins and the New Zealand Oaks placegetter Zarzuela, Finepoint is at her best at this trip, performs fresh and beat Sibaaq the last time she raced at the Rosehill 1400m. Hasn’t been shown up in her trials but looks to be primed.
SECTIONAL STARS
Brosnan (race six) is faced with the not insignificant task of stopping Zougotcha from adding the Phar Lap Stakes to her fabulous C.V. It’s a big ask for sure, but Brosnan’s dam, Supara, beat Winx home in the Surround a couple of weeks before Winx turned the tables in the Phar Lap Stakes as it happens. As for Brosnan, he has been the eye-catcher, or certainly one of them, in the Eskimo Prince and the Hobartville after that. The Ryan/Alexiou colt is 1200m, 1400m and now 1500m and that just couldn’t be a better fit for this rare grey coloured son of Snitzel.
No Compromise (race seven) has company, and rivalry, from a sibling in Saturday’s Sky High Stakes. Reason being, both he and the cleverly-named Benaud are both sons of the Galileo mare, Baggy Green. Clearly, her male offspring are beyond handy but her best foal is in fact a female namely the four times Group 1 winner, Tofane, who was mated to Written Tycoon last spring. As for the reigning The Metrop winner No Compromise, he was $11 to $18 when he resumed in the ATC Gardenia Handicap (1600m) on Feb 4 but ran better than anything in the race and that’s including the winner, Banju. Loves it here at home.
THE JUDGMENT
ROYAL RANDWICK
R8: Coolmore Classic (1500m)
Richard Haynes (TAB): “I’ve very quickly become a fan of Ruthless Dame. She’s a strong girl, and if Dylan Gibbons can find some cover in the run, I can see her being very hard to hold out and give both her and her top young rider their biggest days at the races. Hinged brings the outstanding Anamoe form, I’d imagine she rolls across to just off the speed and her class takes her along way. Annavisto was awesome in Melbourne last start and comes here at the peak of her powers. Hope In Your Heart must be a player while the very smart Purplepay for William Haggas the yard watch of the day.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “The girls come together for what is an open race each and every year. Going for a filly here in Sheeza Belter, who has been very solid at both runs this time in. Went a touch keen first up travelling closer than usual and the complete opposite next start when not away well. Just too much to do in the Surround Stakes and is ready to peak at 3rd run in back at Rosehill where she was a winner at her only start. Won at both attempts 3rd up.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Espiona usually starts well under her true price but I think she looks a good bet here. She won well last start and the stable expect more improvement to come. Mick Dee takes the ride and she will only carry 51kg. She goes on top from Hope In Your Heart who won first up and she should also improve.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “A very open betting race with a host of chances. As it stands, Ruthless Dame has been the best supported with us followed by Annavisto and Espiona. I think there’s a great each-way chance in this in Sheeza Belter. She was unsuited last start, drawn well and gets the dry deck she craves.”
Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “There’s been a good push for Yearning here who is $15 into $9.50 and is best backed. Espiona returns to Sydney after a win in Melbourne, but TAB punters seem to be wary of her Sydney form and are keeping their distance at this stage.”
Verdict: Ruthless Dame
R9: Ajax Stakes (1500m)
Richard Haynes (TAB): “I’m expecting Waterford to announce himself as a proper Doncaster Mile prospect. A longer distance and a soft barrier look the perfect scenario for him, and he’s yet to meet defeat at his home track in starts there. But it’s a good race, and while he has the steadier of 58kg I expect Bandersnatch to run boldly. He’s a very fit racehorse and if he gets an easy time near the lead he will take plenty of running down. Sibaaq was good first up and he just doesn’t know how to run poorly, and I wouldn’t be overlooking Bois D’Argent at nice odds.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “I must come back to Bandersnatch here in an evenly graded race. Worked early from an outside alley first up and battled on well behind Think About It at Randwick. Draws softer here to track speed and has run well at Rosehill in the past. That first up run came off a couple of nice jumpouts in Melbourne so should be right for this 1500m.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “I would not read too much into Waterford’s first up run where he was in the worst part of the track. He has had a trial in preparation for this and he is 3 from 3 from over 1500m at Rosehill. He has drawn well in barrier 4 and he should be too strong for this lot. Sibaaq and Bandersnatch look the best of the rest.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Waterford’s been easy $3.60-$3.90 and one we’re prepared to lay on the day. Sibaaq has been steadily supported and looks a great chance up in trip. Cepheus has been another good firm at a price $23-$16.”
Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “Waterford is by far the best backed runner in this one. The Chris Waller-trained runner accounts for 40% of the hold. There has been a little go for Ascension who is $8 into $5, but the majority of the money keeps coming for Waterford.”
Verdict: Waterford
FLEMINGTON
R7: Newmarket Handicap (1200m)
Richard Haynes (TAB): “The more I look at the race the more I ask myself ‘Why can’t Private Eye win?’ We know he’s the kind of horse that it doesn’t matter what Joe Pride trains him for, he’s going to be in the finish. He’s won up the straight before, he’s lethal fresh, and I’m very comfortable being with him. I Wish I Win was sensational first up, he only has to repeat it to be in the finish. Mazu resumes here and I can’t believe the price. He’s a sprinter in the prime of his life, Speaking of horses at big odds, the Roch ‘n’ Horse fan club will get a juicy price about a mare that is looking to go back-to-back in the race.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Always a great race because of the handicap conditions. Private Eye is a class runner who always races well fresh and really blew them away here first up last campaign in the Gilgai, his only straight track run. Great record at 1200m and has always run well fresh in the past. Concedes weight to every runner but deservedly so with his record and his two trials have him ready him.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “I Wish I Win and In Secret both look to be well found by the punters early and I think the value lies with Private Eye. He won the G2 Gilgai stakes first up over the same track/trip in October and he will attempt to do the same again here. Brenton Avdulla knows him well and rode him in the Everest where he was only denied by Giga Kick. If he runs up to that level here, he will be winning this.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “I Wish I Win easy early $3.80-$4.20 with the big go coming for the Coolmore winner In Secret $5-$4.20. She accounts for 40% of the hold on the race. Buenos Noches gets a gun run here and one we want to keep on side.”
Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “A very open betting race here. In Secret and I Wish I Win have battled for favouritism since markets opened and are the two best backed with TAB. There has been good support for Buenos Noches at $12 and he’s the third best backed in terms of money held.”
Verdict: Private Eye
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