Untapped filly Zougotcha has put herself in the frame for some serious spring races with a strong win over luckless favourite In Secret in the Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick.
Trainer Chris Waller says the three-year-old is in a similar mould to her sire Zoustar, who he also trained and who was competitive at two but blossomed the following season to win the 2013 Golden Rose.
“She’s pretty much like Zoustar really,” Waller said.
“He didn’t win the Group 1 (J J Atkins) up there (in Brisbane) but he just exploded as a three-year-old.
“It is good to see him putting so much into his progeny. They are exciting horses and she is an example of that.”
Zougotcha ($13) won her debut at Canterbury on a wet track, later earning a trip to Brisbane where she finished fourth in Listed grade.
She has clearly returned bigger and better, scooting through along the inside for Willie Pike to beat In Secret ($3 fav) by 1-1/4 lengths with North Star Lass ($31) another neck away.
Waller is hoping she can continue through the Princess Series races and potentially stretch to a mile in the Group 1 Flight Stakes in October.
“It is a historical series that normally sees good horses perform. If we can get her through to a Flight Stakes, that would be fantastic, but one step at a time,” he said.
In Secret had excuses after having to come around heels in the straight and shoulder her way into clear running.
Her jockey James Mcdonald labelled her return as “outstanding” and felt she was disadvantaged by the muddling tempo.
“Great return from an inexperienced horse. Will only derive benefit from today’s outing and a more genuinely run race,” McDonald said.