By Glenn Davis
The Queensland baton will be handed to premier trainer Tony Gollan at Caulfield on Wednesday as star sprinter Zoustyle bids for a breakthrough interstate victory in the Listed Ladbroke Village Stakes.
Gollan is confident Zoustyle is ready to produce his best in the 1200-metre feature after the four-year-old was caught late when second to the Team Hawkes-trained Renewal in the Listed Testa Rossa at Caulfield last month.
“He’s in great order and has really come on since his narrow defeat in the Testa Rossa,” Gollan said.
Queensland went close to claiming the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas on Saturday when the David Vandyke-trained Alligator Blood suffered a heartbreak defeat when pipped on the post by the Anthony Freedman-trained Super Seth.
Gollan said Zoustyle, a winner of six of his eight starts, has stepped up a gear since he’s been away.
“He’s used to being away from his Brisbane stable now and he’s a happy horse who’s in a good routine,” he said.
“He raced a touch too hard in the Testa Rossa but he’s a lot better now with that run under his belt.”
Zoustyle is nominated for the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday week and next month’s Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic at Flemington.
However, Gollan will see how Zoustyle performs on Wednesday before deciding the gelding’s next target.
“I want to get this run out of the way first before looking too far ahead,” he said.
Gollan also hopes to also be a big player at Doomben on Wednesday where he has four runners engaged.
Jerry Zanda will start the stable off in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1640m) followed by Fizz in the Johns Lyng Maiden Plate (1640m), Sizzling Power in the Bay Building Services Maiden Plate (1350m) and Lashoni in the Steamatic Class One Handicap (1200m).
Gollan, who is a runaway leader again in the Brisbane trainers’ premiership, rates Fizz and Sizzling Power as the best hopes.
Fizz, a Larry Cassidy mount, is coming off a last start second in a 1300-metre maiden at the Sunshine Coast on September 27 while Sizzling Power fought on well for fourth in an 1100-metre Maiden Handicap at Ipswich on October 2.
“Fizz has done well since her second at the Sunny Coast and she’ll enjoy stepping up to 1640 metres,” he said.
“Sizzling Power raced at a strong speed last time and is drawn well.”
Racing Queensland webnews October 15