A trio of exciting Zacinto youngsters has made a big impression over the past 24 hours with stylish wins in Singapore, New Zealand and Hong Kong. In Singapore on Sunday night, Te Akau runner Lim’s Zoom showed massive raw talent to score greenly by 5 lengths over 1200m at Kranji, while back in New Zealand at Rotorua today, unbeaten Zacinto gelding Not Usual Talent came from last in the $25,000 feature 3YO event (1560m) to roll a smart field of youngsters. Attention then turned to Hong Kong where the big talk horse Aerohappiness made his debut a winning one, confirming the talent he has shown in his five facile trial wins in Sydney and Hong Kong. The trio of wins completed a cracking Easter weekend of racing for the stock of Zacinto with two stakes performers on Saturday, Odeon running a brave second in the G3 Easter Cup at Caulfield, while Son of Zac stormed home from a distant last to finish third in the Listed Riverton Cup. The hot run of racetrack form continues on from Zacinto's hot run in the sale ring with his nine Karaka yearlings selling for an average of $116,000 this year, a figure only bettered among kiwi sires by Savabeel and Tavistock.
1. Walker zooms in on Singapore Guineas with raw 3YO
Singapore champion trainer Mark Walker may have found himself a late ticket for the Singapore Guineas on May 26 with last night’s impressive winner Lim’s Zoom.
Starting hot favourite in Sunday’s $85,000 Emperor Max 2016 Stakes (1200m), the son of Zacinto was still very green, wobbling in and out when jockey Vlad Duric peeled him off the two front runners, but once Duric had his wayward mount on an even keel, the leading pair were left rooted to the spot as something “Zoomed” past in the twinkle of an eye.
Putting in the big bounds, Lim’s Zoom skipped clear to gap the field by just under five lengths.
“He’s still raw and immature, mentally and physically, but I think he’s got a really nice future,” said Walker. “I will have a chat with Mr Lim (Siah Mong) about the Guineas. It’s a million dollar race after all."
A two-time barrier trial winner in New Zealand, Lim’s Zoom has really thrived since his arrival at Kranji last August. On debut in February, he ran an encouraging third before improving by one spot second-up one month later.
BREEDER: Bevan and Robyn Wilson BREEDING: Zacinto x Sound Decision (Volksraad)
2. Not Usual Talent remains unbeaten for Marsh
Not Usual Talent kept his unbeaten record intact with a stylish come-from-behind win at Rotorua this afternoon. The three-year-old son of Zacinto began his career with an easy two-length maiden win at Te Aroha last month, but was thrown in at the deep end today for his second start. The field for the $25,000 Laser Electrical Rotorua 3YO featured stakes performer Ladynadel and last-start winners Lala Land, La Mia Stella, O’Sam and Podravina. But Not Usual Talent was again clearly superior in the 1560-metre event, coming from last and circling the field approaching the home turn. With in-form jockey Danielle Johnson aboard, Not Usual Talent hit the lead at the 250-metre mark and kicked away to win by a length and a half from Podravina and Ladynadel. “He’s a lovely horse,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “He’s still pretty raw, but he’s obviously plenty talented. We’ve taken our time with him and we’re starting to be repaid now. He’s got that big, loafing action, so he’ll be better again over 2000 metres.” BREEDER: Colin and Tina Nimmo BREEDING: Zacinto x Compact Pussycat (Al Akbar)
3. Aerohappiness 'walks the talk' in Hong Kong
He’d been labelled by the Hong Kong media as a future superstar, and Zacinto 3YO Aerohappiness did nothing to dent his big reputation with a commanding win on debut in the Dendronium Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin this evening. Heading out a $1.60 favourite in the 14 horse field after three facile Hong Kong trial wins, the imposing gelding hit the front shortly after rounding the turn and despite running greenly, scored a comfortable win for jockey Joao Moreira. Aerohappiness raced in Sydney as Marco The Smuck for trainer Glen Thompson for two outstanding trial wins before his sale to clients of his now trainer John Size late last year. Bred by Valachi Downs, he is a half-brother
to Group Two winning filly She Brings Joy, while his yearling full brother was the top priced Zacinto sold at Karaka this year when knocked down to astute judge Paul Moroney for $230,000.
BREEDER: Valachi Downs BREEDING: Zacinto x In The Mood (Hawk Wing)