Chris Waller capped off a stellar day at Royal Randwick with an exhilarating quinella within the 2024 Queen of the Turf Stakes.
Zougotcha successful the 2024 Queen Of The Turf Stakes in an in depth end for the punters. Photograph: Steve Hart
Following the unforgettable efficiency by the Ciaron Maher-trained Pleasure of Jenni within the Queen Elizabeth, all eyes turned to Race 9 the place final 12 months’s champion Atishu aimed to defend her title.
Waller opted to scratch Atishu from the Queen Elizabeth in favour of the Queen of the Turf, a extra appropriate distance (1600m) for the defending champion.
This resolution proved essential, as Atishu mounted a strong late cost, finally falling simply wanting her stablemate Zougotcha.
Zougotcha, the race favorite, secured a slim victory, finishing a hat-trick of wins this Sydney marketing campaign.
The four-year-old daughter of Zoustar dominated the Group 2 Millie Fox (1300m) and the Group 1 Coolmore Basic (1500m) at Rosehill earlier this 12 months, including one other feather to her cap with this win.
This victory cements her standing as a champion, following her 2022 Flight Stakes win as a three-year-old.
“We simply needed to put her in the precise races and he or she’s gone bang, bang, bang. Robust mare,” Waller mentioned of Zougtocha post-win.
“I used to be nonetheless fascinated with that final race. Full credit score to Pleasure Of Jenni however it was simply horrible to observe!
“Zougotcha has carried out an excellent job. We gave her a good break after she didn’t come up within the spring. We didn’t panic and we allowed her to be a racehorse.
“We gave her a correct break and he or she’s received three-from-three this prep.”
Champion jockey James McDonald piloted Zougotcha to an ideal run, settling comfortably in fourth place behind the early chief Tropical Squall.
“Very pleased with this mare. She’s an absolute ripper. Obstacles win races. She has drawn lovely marbles all through,” McDonald mentioned.
“She executes completely. She tries actually laborious. A mile might be a stretch at Randwick however her will to win is phenomenal.
“She’s so prepared. She’s positively the mare of the autumn. She did a very good job at present.
She railed up the within on the house straight, hitting the entrance 150m out from the road.”
Atishu’s late surge threatened to steal the present, however finally, J-Mac and Zougotcha held on for the win.
“Atishi, she’s powerful,” Waller added talking concerning the runner-up.
“One other stride and it may need been totally different celebrations, however hey, it’s 1600-metres (and) till you get to the road there’s no celebrating.
“The house owners have the choice to promote her. I don’t suppose she’ll be bought. There’s nonetheless good racing in her. These are dream horses for individuals and breeding isn’t as simple because it sounds. I believe she ought to race on.
“They (the horses) are good mates on the stables at house, too so there’ll be a little bit of bragging rights.
“It was a beautiful trip from James (McDonald) and it was an excellent reward as he’s had a troublesome day.”
Coach Ciaron Maher, who dominated the day with two Group 1 wins – Pleasure of Jenni (Queen Elizabeth) and Circle of Fireplace (Sydney Cup) – secured third place with Semana ($14), rounding out the Queen of the Turf trifecta.
2024 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Outcomes
| End | No. | Horse | Coach | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Beginning Worth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | ZOUGOTCHA | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1 | 57kg | $3.50F | |||
| 2 | 1 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 0.04L | 2 | 57kg | $3.70 | ||
| 3 | 5 | SEMANA | Ciaron Maher | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 1.28L | 4 | 57kg | $14 | ||
| 4 | 16 | MAKARENA | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tyler Schiller | 1.3L | 8 | 54.5kg | $16 | ||
| 5 | 4 | RUTHLESS DAME (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Ms Jamie Kah | 1.48L | 15 | 57kg | $16 | ||
| 6 | 14 | TROPICAL SQUALL | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 2.44L | 3 | 54.5kg | $6.50 | ||
| 7 | 6 | OLENTIA | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 2.58L | 10 | 57kg | $12 | ||
| 8 | 7 | ETERNAL FLAME (NZ) | Michael Kent | Damian Lane | 2.6L | 6 | 57kg | $19 | ||
| 9 | 3 | CAMPIONESSA (NZ) | Mark Walker | Opie Bosson | 2.66L | 13 | 57kg | $26 | ||
| 10 | 12 | BARBIE’S FOX | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Mark Zahra | 4.01L | 9 | 57kg | $91 | ||
| 11 | 13 | MORE SECRETS | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Ben Melham | 4.03L | 5 | 57kg | $81 | ||
| 12 | 9 | RENAISSANCE WOMAN (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 4.14L | 7 | 57kg | $31 | ||
| 13 | 11 | OSMOSE (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 4.54L | 11 | 57kg | $41 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ARCTIC GLAMOUR | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Michael Dee | 6.1L | 14 | 54.5kg | $51 | ||
| 15 | 10 | MADAME POMMERY | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 6.67L | 12 | 57kg | $51 | ||
Desk Credit score: Racing Australia.
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