Zouna (AUS)
2 c Zousain – Campagna by Camelot
O: John and Karen McKeon
B: John and Karen McKeon
T: Lawrie Mayfield-Smith
W: BRC Stradbroke Season Sale Maiden 2YO Handicap, 1110m, March 6, Doomben
Zouna (Zousain) reproduced his impressive trial form when running out a clear–cut winner of an 1100-metre maiden on his competitive debut at Doomben on Wednesday.
Trainer Lawrie Mayfield-Smith has taken a patient approach with the colt who bolted up for an easy barrier trial win last October at Eagle Farm.
A recent jump-out win saw him start a short-priced favourite and he justified the hype by
kicking clear for a dominant two and a half length win over the more experienced Zelezny (Better Than Ready).
“Everyone saw the jump-out the other day, so to see him win like that was no surprise,” said the winning trainer.
“He’s a colt, but he’s like a puppy dog, he just likes to snuggle into you, a lovely horse.
“We’ll give him one more run and tip him out for a short break and some time on the water walker, then come back for the winter carnival. I think he’ll run a mile.”
Originally marked down as a $120,000 Magic Millions Book 2 purchase from Kenmore Lodge for High Calibre Racing and Clarke Bloodstock, Zouna had an issue with his scope and is now raced by his breeders, John and Karen McKeon.
He is the first winner out of the unraced Camelot (Montjeu) mare Campagna, whose dam Papillon Rouge (Fastnet Rock) is a sister to the Listed winner Digitalism. Campagna produced another colt by Zousain (Zoustar) last spring.
Zouna became the fifth first crop winner, including one in New Zealand, for Zousain, who covered 189 mares at Widden Stud last spring at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
Zousain has ten lots set to go under the hammer at next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, a further nine at the following week’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, and two more at next month’s Inglis Australian Yearling Sale.