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Chris Waller noticed a resemblance between Zousain and his sire Zoustar when comparing photographs of the pair.
And now Sydney’s premier trainer, who brought up his 100th Sydney metropolitan winner on Wednesday, hopes their racing records to develop into mirror images.
Zousain took an early step towards that ambitious goal when he won on debut at Randwick, earning the two-year-old a start in a lead-up race to the $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
Waller downplayed the colt’s prospects of lining up in the world’s richest race for two year-old’s at Rosehill on March 24, though there was no denying the promising start to his career thought the TAB.com.au Plate (1000m).
Expertly guided by Kerrin McEvoy, who continued his impressive return from injury with four winners, Zousain ($7) took an inside run before beating Godolphin colt Pindus ($19) by a long head.
Waller, who already has Performer as a leading contender for the Slipper, was coy on whether Zousain was capable of joining his stablemate on the same path.
“He’s certainly promising, and I’m pretty proud that he’s by Zoustar,” Waller said.
“He’s got plenty of his father’s attributes, if you compare the photos you see a lot of Zoustar in him.”
Waller trained Zoustar to Group One glory in the Golden Rose and Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2013.
A Brisbane campaign was initially under consideration for Zousain but his win has upgraded plans, though he will not be forced towards the Slipper.
“I’m not going to make the mistake of beating them up and just going to the sales and promising owners that their horse is going to win the Golden Slipper,” Waller said.
“I want them there as three and four-year-olds, I want a horse to have a career.”
McEvoy, who also won aboard Frankel colt Tangmere to bring up Waller’s century, is upbeat about Zousain’s future.
“I can see him propelling forward into this preparation and the next. He’s not the finished article yet, but he’s got a lot of ability,” he said. – AAP