Four years after big brother Osborne Bulls took out the Luskin Stakes Stakes at Scone, Zapateo has captured a feature race win of her own at the corresponding meeting.
The filly had put the writing on the wall with a last-start stakes placing behind stablemate Heresy, but she went one better on Saturday, sweeping to victory in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m).
Zapateo has only missed a place once in eight starts and Godolphin stable representative Darren Beadman said it was a deserved win.
“She looked everything but home the other day at Randwick and Heresy, she is a good filly, so it took a good one to beat her,” Beadman said.
“Everything worked to plan today. She was very push-button.
“She obviously had a little bit of class on her side and Rachel (King) just timed her run perfectly. It’s nice to get some black-type for her.
“She is by Brazen Beau and is a half-sister to Osborne Bulls so she is very well bred and that will stand her in good stead in the breeding barn.”
King positioned Zapateo ($6) better than midfield and began creeping into the race approaching the home turn.
Once the filly balanced, she finished hard down the outside to defeat A Very Fine Red ($8.50) by a length with Coco Rox ($17) another long neck away.
King said she was conscious of not hitting the front too soon and gave Zapateo time to wind up and hit her stride.
“She just got a bit fresh mid-race, wanted to get on with it, but I knew I had plenty of horse under me at the top of the straight,” King said.
“I was just trying to bide my time and be a little bit patient, but she was strong to the line.”
Zapateo gave Godolphin an early stakes double after they captured the Listed Vinery Woodlands Stakes (1100m) with promising filly In Secret.