Ozzmosis carried Rachel King to a historic win in Saturday’s $2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington, in the process announcing himself one of the hottest stud prospects in the country.
The Bjorn Baker-trained colt scored a dashing win in the most significant race on the calendar for three-year-olds on the 10th anniversary of his sire Zoustar’s win in the race.
Zoustar’s sire Northern Meteor and his sire Encosta De Lago are also past winners of the 1200-metre event and King couldn’t believe she added her name to the honour roll as the first female winner of the race in what was her maiden win at Australia’s most famous racecourse.
“Derby Day was the first day I ever rode at Flemington and it was down the straight, so to be able to break my duck here at Flemington with a Group 1 winner is just unbelievable,” England native King said.
“To do it for Bjorn and the team, he’s just my biggest supporter, especially these owners as well, I’m speechless.”
Ozzmosis bounced back from the first defeat of his career in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m), when he finished third behind King’s Gambit, to make it four wins from five starts.
The Darby Racing-owned colt, a $250,000 buy at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, started $18 with online bookies and scored by 1-1/4 lengths from I Am Unstoppable ($6), who finished a head clear of Golden Slipper winner Shinzo ($4.60).
Baker was thrilled to be back in the Group 1 winner’s stall on Derby Day, 13 years after combining with his father Murray to win the Derby with Lion Tamer, and was full of praise for Ozzmosis.
“I was here 12 years ago as co-trainer of Lion Tamer with my father and that is one reason I came to Australia,” Baker said.
“It is the lucky country and the greatest racing in the world.
“This horse has been outstanding from the first gallop he had. He just put his hand up. It didn’t work out last time (but) we were confident we had him right.
“I was very confident he’d run well but it is hard to be confident coming here.”