Top sprinting mare In Secret to visit Widden Stud’s Zoustar this breeding season

Zoustar, the champion stallion and sire of top mares Zougotcha and Joliestar, will be visited by Godolphin’s brilliant sprinter In Secret this breeding season.

In Secret, with the late Dean Holland aboard, wins the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March, 2023. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

Zoustar, the champion stallion and sire of top mares Zougotcha and Joliestar, will be visited by Godolphin’s brilliant sprinter In Secret this breeding season.

“Godolphin has just called asking if they could slot In Secret into Zoustar’s book this spring,” Widden Stud supremo Antony Thompson confirmed.

“It was a great one to get, she was an outstanding filly and mare.”

Thompson said Zoustar, who stands at an equal nation-topping service fee of $275,000 with I Am Invincible, will cover around 160 mares this spring.

• Dual Group 1-winning Godolphin sprinter In Secret retired

The in-demand Zoustar is coming off a career-best season where he sired 208 individual winners – equalling the Australian record set by I Am Invincible in 2020-21.

Zoustar was also the leading stallion for most races won with 364 wins while his progeny earned just over $24 million, second only to I Am Invincible with a record $32.13 million.

Group 1 winners Zougtocha and Joliestar led the charge for Zoustar last season and are poised to give their sire a flying start to 2024-25 at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Zougotcha, part-owned and bred by Thompson, takes on a star-studded field in the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m).

Despite the Chris Waller-trained mare’s impeccable autumn carnival form with three wins from as many starts including Group 1 successes in the Coolmore Classic and Queen of the Turf Stakes, she is on the fourth line of TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Winx Stakes at $9 behind stablemate Fangirl at $2.15.

Let’s relive In Secret’s impressive Newmarket victory with the late Dean Holland in the saddle 💙

Enjoy being a mum, In Secret 🫶 pic.twitter.com/KXstfX6v7I

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 22, 2024

• Winx Stakes tips and runner-by-runner analysis

Thompson is banking on Zougotcha’s proven first-up ability, favourable barrier and tactical speed to ensure her competitiveness in the big race.

“Zougotcha will be up there on speed or just behind it,” Thompson said. “But there will be plenty trying to get past her.

“She is a proper mare who dominated the Princess Series as a three-year-old filly and had a great autumn campaign earlier this year.

“There are plenty of races to target with her this spring like The Epsom and the mares race at Flemington on Derby Day.

“Chris will split his team up and work out where they go in the spring.”

Joliestar, a stablemate of Zougotcha raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, will resume in the Group 3 $250,000 Show County Quality (1200m).

“She’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree,” Thompson said of Joliestar, winner of the Group 1 Thousand Guineas last season.

“When she is retired from racing, she will be a very valuable broodmare for Cambridge Stud. We will be cheering for her on Saturday.”

Originally published as Top sprinting mare In Secret to visit Widden Stud’s Zoustar this breeding season