Top Australian Sprinter Zoustar joins Qatar Bloodstock

The three-year-old colt is being prepared by trainer Chris Waller for what is likely to be his final campaign before retiring to Widden Stud in New South Wales. It is likely to involve three races in Australia - beginning at Rosehill in late March - before travelling to Europe to run at the Royal Meeting.

Zoustar's victories in 2013 included the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup meeting, a win that was witnessed at first hand by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who together with his brothers owns Qatar Racing and Qatar Bloodstock.

A son of the late stallion Northern Meteor, Zoustar was foaled by the Redoute's Choice mare Zouzou.

Antony Thomson, owner of Widden Stud, said: "Zoustar's breath-taking performances in the spring caught the attention of Sheikh Fahad and he has negotiated to purchase an interest in Zoustar on behalf of Qatar Bloodstock in what is a major show of support for the Australian breeding and racing industries."

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani added: "I was able to inspect Zoustar with my bloodstock advisor David Redvers following his impressive win in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. This colt represents everything that is great about Australian horses. He is strong, masculine and incredibly fast and I am very excited about the prospects of him racing in Europe and ultimately retiring to stud."

Qatar Bloodstock advisor David Redvers noted that Zoustar's Coolmore Stud Stakes victory was some 1.2 seconds quicker than Buffering's Group One win a week later. Zoustar's time was also 1.3 seconds quicker than his sire and grandsire Northern Meteor and Encosta de Lago recorded in their Coolmore victories.

Widden Stud has also sold a 25% interest in Zoustar to Woodside Park and he will stand the second and fourth seasons at their farm in Victoria.

Antony Thompson added: "We're delighted to have Qatar Bloodstock's involvement alongside Widden and Woodside Park. Their distinctive claret and gold silks have, in a short period of time, been carried to success in a number of feature races and it will be these colours that Zoustar will carry into his final campaigns here in Australia and hopefully Europe."

Zoustar is likely to have a racecourse gallop later in the month before trialling in February and Thompson said Zoustar will probably stay in Sydney for his final Australian campaign.

He added: "Chris (Waller) is delighted with how he has come back from a spell. The horse didn't have much of a break from last winter leading into the spring and you can see just how much he has benefited from an extended break. At this stage the plan is to have three runs in Australia with the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (over 1,300m), Gr.1 T J Smith (1,200m) and Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1,400m) on the agenda before a possible campaign in Europe."

Horses based in Australia that carry the claret with gold braid colours of Sheikh Hamad and his brothers are registered under the banner of Qatar Bloodstock.