Ken Callander says watch for Zoustar to prove he’s Australia’s No.1 sprinter

Is Zoustar our new sprint star or just another boom horse? Ken Callander is tipping the star colt to prove he’s the real deal at Randwick.

Last-start Randwick winner Lilliburlero again looms as a top prospect. Picture: Simon Bul

Is Zoustar the new sprint star of racing or just another boom horse? That’s the question that will be answered at Randwick today in the G1 Canterbury Stakes and I’m tipping the big strong Chris Waller trained colt to come through with flying colours.

So far Zoustar is batting six from eight and, although those close to him are not giving a lot away, I believe his best is ahead of him. His toughest to beat today is another three-year-old Not Listenin’tome, who was explosive in winning the Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield three weeks ago.

In the co-feature, the G1 Randwick Guineas, the John O’Shea galloper Savvy Nature is flying a little under the radar and, with blinkers back on, he is super value at $10.

Savvy Nature (right) is great value in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m). Picture: Brett Costello

Race 1 (1.17)

Betting: $2.80 Giuliani, $3.50 Valentia, $4.20 Gold Force, $6 Time For War, $12 Zizumba

Comment: It is easy to bag the form of all runners. Being positive Giuliani, second at Randwick in October at his only run, flew in a recent trial although it was only 733m. Gold Force beat a moderate lot winning at Mornington on debut, but is in a strong stable and could be the improver. Valentia and Time For War are both city winners and should make their presence felt.

Bet: 1 Gold Force

Exotics: Quinella 1 Gold Force, 5 Giuliani

Race 2 (1.52)

Betting: $2.10 Twirl, $5.50 Tetsuko, $6 Press Report, $8.50 Occitan, Puzzle

Comment: The removal of blinkers and the switch back to Randwick should work wonders with Twirl, a filly with a future. Press Report, who finished in front of her when second to Mossfun at Rosehill last run, is the obvious danger, but she might not have quite the scope of the Waterhouse runner. Tetsuko, a good winner at the midweeks, is the other main hope with Occitan, a place show.

Bet: 5 Twirl

Exotics: Quinella 2 Press Report, 5 Twirl

Twirl (second from left) has a big future and can stamp herself a Golden Slipper horse in the Sweet Embrace Stakes. Picture: Brett Costello

Race 3 (2.27)

Betting: $2 Opinion, $2.30 Junoob, $8 Vaquera, $11 The Offer, $16 Bayrir

Comment: Waller trains Opinion, Junoob and Bayrir and Waterhouse has Vaquera and The Offer. Junoob was odds on when downed by Opinion at Rosehill on March 1 and, even though the heavy track favoured the winner, the margin was too great for me to expect a different result this time. Vaquera disappointed last run, but could go better at Randwick and The Offer is the improver.

Bet: 4 Opinion

Exotics: Trifecta 4 Opinion as standout with 2 Bayrir, 6 The Offer, 7 Junoob

Race 4 (3.02)

Betting: $4.20 Forever Loved, $5 Lucky Lago, $5.50 Any Day Will Do, $7 Express Power

Comment: Forever Loved, an impressive winner in 3YO fillies class, will go straight to the front, but will she be able to dominate as much as against her own age? Lucky Lago is perfectly suited by the 1600m and she caught the eye when unsuited behind Red Tracer first-up. Any Day Will Do disappointed in the going last week, but is worth another chance and Express Power is racing well.

Bet: 4 Lucky Lago

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Capital Commander, 3 Any Day Will Do, 4 Lucky Lago, 11 Forever Loved

Snitzerland has returned in fine form and will be hard to toss in the Challenge Stakes. Picture: Jay Town

Race 5 (3.37)

Betting: $2.70 Snitzerland, $3 Buffering, $5 Sessions, $11 Whittington

Comment: Snitzerland was fabulous winning the G1 Lightning at Flemington first-up and she boasts two wins and two seconds from four second-up runs. Buffering, the winner of 15 races, is all class and, if he retains it as a late 6YO, watch out. Of the others Sessions has trialled well and can swoop on them late and Bel Sprinter, Tiger Tees and Satin Shoes should not be ignored.

Bet: 7 Snitzerland

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Buffering, 2 Bel Sprinter, 4 Sessions, 7 Snitzerland

Race 6 (4.12)

Betting: $4.60 Lilliburlero, $5 A Time For Julia, $9 Driefontein, $9.50 Angel Bee

Comment: A lot of chances. Lilliburlero, a big mare returning to the scene of the crime after a terrific first-up Randwick win, appeals most with A Time For Julia, from Melbourne, obviously a quality galloper and a good second at Rosehill last run. Driefontein has plenty of heart and will be thereabouts while Pentasia, Recoinage and Emmalene are also in the mix.

Bet: 3 Lilliburlero

Exotics: Box trifecta 3 Lilliburlero, 6 A Time For Julia, 7 Emmalene, 9 Recoinage

Last-start Randwick winner Lilliburlero again looms as a top prospect. Picture: Simon Bullard

Race 7 (4.47)

Betting: $3.80 El Roca, $6.50 Atlante, $8 eurozone, Bull Point, $8.50 Dissident

Comment: El Roca has had an interrupted preparation and he jumps from 1300m last week and has drawn wide — on the other hand he oozes class. Dissident and Atlante both ran well in the Hobartville and are right in it and eurozone and Bull Point are back from Melbourne where they mixed their form a little. I think the blinkers and 1600m brings Savvy Nature right into it.

Bet: 6 Savvy Nature

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Dissident, 2 El Roca, 4 Atlante, 6 Savvy Nature

Race 8 (5.22)

Betting: $2.75 Zoustar, $4 Not Listenin’tome, $4.60 Red Tracer, $5.50 Appearance, $16 Streama

Comment: Rain Affair will bowl along in the lead and it will be truly run. Zoustar has benefited by two trials and, although resuming, he has potential to burn. The other three-year-old Not Listenin’tome is also classy and can race right on Rain Affair’s bumper. Don’t discard the ace mares, Red Tracer and Appearance — both love a bit of give in the ground and both are in form.

Bet: 9 Zoustar

Exotics: Box trifecta 8 Red Tracer, 9 Zoustar, 10 Not Listenin’tome

Cosmic Endeavour is a last-start winner and easily capable of repeating the dose. Picture: Simon Bullard

Race 9 (5.57)

Betting: $4.20 Cosmic Endeavour, $5.50 Open Book, $8.50 Shamalia, $9.50 Sidestep

Comment: Cosmic Endeavour was brilliant at Rosehill two weeks ago without blinkers on and she is capable of a repeat. A terrific value chance is Polarmore, a galloper with ability who has been improved by a recent run. Open Book, Diamond Oasis, Maysoon and Flight Academy all have claims and, if you forgive Shamalia’s Melbourne flop, she can win. Sidestep has a lot of weight.

Bet: 12 Cosmic Endeavour

Exotics: Box trifecta 5 Open Book, 9 Polarmore, 12 Cosmic Endeavour, 13 Shamalia

BEST BET:

Race 3, No.4

Opinion

BEST VALUE:

Race 7, No.6

Savvy Nature

Junoob is racing well but is hardly good odds in the Randwick City Stakes. Picture: Simon Bullard

WHO’S HOT

Punters love a rising star and they have stayed loyal to Zoustar in the Canterbury Stakes keeping his Fixed Odds price solid at $2.75.

WHO’S NOT

Junoob was short last start and he looks short again in the Randwick City Stakes at $2.30. He’s promising, but carnival class could be a bit above him.

DROP A HINT

Capital Commander is big value at $26 in R4. The Kathy O’Hara mount goes OK at Randwick and is better placed than she was in the Sprint at Canberra on Sunday.

EYE CATCHER

Don’t ignore Recoinage in the Roy Higgins. The Joe Pride mare came from nowhere when an eye catching second to Lilliburlero over this course three weeks ago.