Gelding passes up shot at bonus
STAR Queensland threeyear-old Zoustyle will miss the chance at a $500,000 bonus this summer but it has paved the way for one of his stablemates to chase the rich reward.
Zoustyle won the Winning Rupert Stakes and the Gold Edition Plate, putting him in line for the Summer ThreeYear-Old Triple Crown in which a horse has to win three designated races to get the $500,000 bonus.
But connections have spelled Zoustyle which has given his stablemate Outback Barbie a shot at the $500,000.
She won a leg of the Triple Crown, the Mode Stakes, before finishing second to Zoustyle in the Gold Edition.
Outback Barbie can take the bonus by winning the Group Two Vo Rogue Stakes at Doomben on Saturday and the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas on January 12.
The filly will be among the favourites for both races and trainer Tony Gollan believes she deserves her chance.
“She was one of many horses who were unlucky in the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic this year and then she has rarely had much luck since,” Gollan said.
“When she won her first start at Doomben last year she hadn’t grown out. But she is now a lovely three-year-old and I think she will be an even better four-year-old mare.”
Gollan wants Outback Barbie to draw a good barrier on Saturday so she can get a nice run.
“It is a matter of getting her into her rhythm and she seems to do that from a good barrier,” Gollan said.
Gollan confirmed Zoustyle would most likely miss the autumn carnival in Sydney to concentrate on the Queensland winter carnival.
“It is just a case of managing his career as he is a gelding and will hopefully be around for a long time” he said.
Zoustyle began his career as a late two-year-old in June and is unbeaten in five starts.
Meanwhile, the new-look Eagle Farm racetrack has sweltered through its comeback day to generally positive comments. The track had been dormant for most of the past four years due to problems with a surface redevelopment.