| Trainer Stuart Kendrick and jockey Angela Jones shared the thrill of a maiden Magic Millions Raceday win on the Gold Coast when big-striding gelding Zoumeteor made all in the $500,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m) on Saturday. |
| Jones made an early play for the lead from barrier 16 and was able to control the race, before quickening nicely inside the final 500m to put a margin on the chasing pack. Zoumeteor had three-quarters of a length to spare over the fast-finishing Velvet Haze at the post, with Robert Heathcote’s race favourite Party Spirit holding third after looming as a winning threat. The son of Zoustar, who is out of multiple Stakes winner Kakakakatie, has now won five of his 13 starts, with Saturday’s victory taking his prizemoney earnings beyond $370,000. Kendrick said he was rapt to win a lucrative Magic Millions feature for a group of loyal owners. “It’s a big thrill,” Kendrick said. “We’ve got some great owners in this horse that have been really supportive. “Angie got him across terrific and he’s got such a high cruising speed this horse, he’s a tough bugger and he kept giving. “He’s a massive, big striding horse and when he gave that kick at the top of the straight, it gave us something to cheer about.” It was a maiden Magic Millions Raceday victory for Jones, 22, who is enjoying a purple patch of form and is one of Queensland’s most in-demand young riders. “Definitely the barrier was our biggest obstacle today but when he got across so sweetly, I thought it was all over,” Jones said. “He was the best horse out there and that (barrier) was the only thing stopping him. “He made a mess of them.” Zoumeteor was bred by Gerry Harvey and offered in the Westbury Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was passed in after failing to meet his $150,000 reserve. Zoumeteor’s half-brother by Ole Kirk is Lot 1211 at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and will be offered by Baramul Stud on Monday. Kendrick, who trains on the Sunshine Coast, has been active during the first four days of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with three purchases, including Lot 600, a Snitzel filly from Baramul Stud’s draft that was secured for $350,000. |
