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Zou Dancer scores a dominant victory in the Vanity Stakes
Widden Stud-based stallion Zoustar (Northern Meteor) was handed his 17th stakes winner on Saturday as his daughter Zou Dancer (3 f ex Investigates by Strategic) posted a dominant victory in the Vanity Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington.
The Leon and Troy Costens-trained three-year-old was having her first start since December. On Saturday, she jumped well from the barriers and settled down in second behind Longduan (Written Tycoon). Under Jamie Kah, Zou Dancer moved up rounding the home turn to draw clear with the leader and with 400 metres left to run she took the lead and then quickened impressively to pull clear of and scored an easy victory, beating Group 1 winner Personal (Fastnet Rock) by four and three-quarter lengths. Starelle (More Than Ready) was a further half a length away in third.
Co-trainer Troy Corstens said the filly could now be aimed at the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
"I'd say you'd have to start looking at the Australian Guineas,” said Corstens. “We talked about it and we don't want to put the cart before the horse but we'll have a talk to Jamie and see what she thinks.
"She settled up there and it was a nice speed. She managed to have plenty in the tank and kicked well.”
Zou Dancer had one start at two for former trainer Tony and Calvin McEvoy. She has now had five starts for Leon and Troy Corstens for three wins and her prize money stands at just under $200,000. .
Purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Bennett Racing for $150,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Newgate Farm draft, the filly is one of three winners out of one-time winner Investigates (Strategic), who was purchased by BB Bloodstock for $19,000 via the 2020 Inglis Digital February (Late) Sale.
Investigates herself is a daughter of VRC Oaks (Gr, 2500m) winner Tributes (Quest For Fame) and hails from the same family as Listed scorer Top Spin (Arena).
Zoustar’s progeny is headed by Group 1 winner Sunlight and he will be represented by 22 lots at the upcoming Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. The Widden Stud stallion had 14 lots sold at last week’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for a total of $2,035,000 at an average of $145,357 with the top price of $450,000 breaking the record for a filly to sell at the sale.
