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Kiwi filly to make Aussie debut at The Valley

3 minute read

Unbeaten Zourion is set to run for the first time in Australia at Moonee Valley.

ZOURION.
ZOURION. Picture: Trish Dunell

When the Kiwi's travel, it pays to keep a close watch. 

In the case of Mark Walker, he is in a slightly different situation establishing an Australian base at Cranbourne, but he does have an Australian first-starter set to run at Moonee Valley on Friday night. 

Unbeaten in New Zealand, Zourion runs in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) having done the majority of her work in New Zealand, just like Imperatriz had before her explosive win in the McEwen Stakes at The Valley almost three weeks ago. 

Walker has high hopes for Zourion and is targeting the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in November, but first he wants to see how the filly shapes up against her Australian counterparts. 

Zourion is unbeaten in two starts, winning at Taupo on debut before scoring in Group 2 company on heavy ground at Matamata. 

Walker took advantage of taking the filly to Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning to work with stablemate Imperatriz. 

"I thought she was pretty good as she is still pretty new," Walker said. 

"It's a bit of an ask to come over, and whatever she does in the spring, she'll improve on physically. 

"We're happy with her, but two-year-old New Zealand form, compared to Australian form, she's probably got to find a few lengths." 

Walker said he has been impressed with the way Zourion had settled into the surrounds at Cranbourne. 

"She has been eating well, which is a big thing with young horses," Walker said. 

"She trialled up against the older horses at Taupo and we thought her trial was good enough to come and have a crack. 

"She's owned by Cambridge Stud and she's a Group 2 winner at home, so if you can add to that record, even if it's a Group placing, it adds to pedigree." 

All going well, Zourion will head to the Group 3 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on October 21 and then into the Thousand Guineas at her third run for the campaign. 

"Once she gets to the Thousand Guineas trip, that will suit her even better," Walker said. 

"She's quite a leggy sort of filly and I think in the autumn you'll see a really nice filly." 


Racing and Sports

Moonee Valley

Friday, 29th September 2023

8
21:45
(local)

University Food Group Scarborough Stakes (G3)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN
AUD $201,000
1200m TURF GOOD
8
21:45
(local)
AUD $201,000
1200m GOOD

University Food Group Scarborough Stakes (G3)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 12. COEUR VOLANTE (NZ) 3yo F
PROISIR (AUS) - SHANINA (AUS)
BLAKE SHINN
MICHAEL MORONEY
$10
56kg
Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd (Mgr: M D Moroney), R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: R P Legh), M Bogoievski, G Devonport, S Farrelly, P Gleeson, B Hollow, W Parkinson, B Taylor, P Tomlinson, W Campbell, Mrs S Bourke, G Van Ameyden, Ms S Nuttal, N & Mrs J Griffin

Sales Information

2nd 5. INHIBITIONS (AUS) 3yo F
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - WORKDRINKS (AUS)
MICHAEL DEE
JAMES CUMMINGS
$12
56kg
Godolphin

Sales Information

3rd 6. BOSSY NIC (AUS) 3yo F
NICCONI (AUS) - RIVER BOSS (AUS)
HARRY COFFEY
T & C MCEVOY
$20
56kg
M Hinkley, Ms J Hinkley, B M Clark, Ms S E Coglin, Miss C M Wargent, M J Wilson, J Muir, S G Hodskiss, A W Brownless, D R Ciavola, H A Woodman, Gunnadidit (Mgr: S Campbell), Mundiwa Pastoral Co (Mgr: C A Landale), Miller Thoroughbreds (Mgr: A S E Miller) & Kildalton Park Racing (Mgr: D Gordon)

Sales Information

4th 3. LAZZAGO (AUS) 3yo F
CAPITALIST (AUS) - LAKE COMO (NZ)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
CHRIS WALLER
$21
56kg

Sales Information

5th 2. SHESALLSHENANIGANS (AUS) 3yo F
TORONADO (IRE) - SEGENHOE VALLEY (AUS)
BLAIKE MCDOUGALL
SIMON ZAHRA
$4.2
56kg

Sales Information

6th 11. ZOURION (NZ) 3yo F
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - IRION (NZ)
MARK ZAHRA
MARK WALKER
$8
56kg

Sales Information

7th 1. SKIRT THE LAW (AUS) 3yo F
BETTER THAN READY (AUS) - OUTLAW KATE (AUS)
RYAN MALONEY
TONY GOLLAN
$3.6
56kg

Sales Information

8th 13. ANNIE'S ROSE (AUS) 3yo F
SEPOY (AUS) - RUE MAPLE (AUS)
JARROD FRY
ALEXANDER JUSTICE
$31
56kg
9th 9. AUSTMARR (AUS) 3yo F
EXOSPHERE (AUS) - ITAMERI (AUS)
JORDAN CHILDS
A & S FREEDMAN
$8
56kg
10th 4. ULANOVA (NZ) 3yo F
SANTOS (AUS) - THE FAIRY'S KISS (AUS)
DAMIEN OLIVER
A & S FREEDMAN
$9.5
56kg

Sales Information

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