Petticoat probably cost herself the win by drifting out in the closing stages of the Keiran Moore Hcp at Randwick - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Zouripper got a lucky break close to home in Saturday’s Keiran Moore BM78 when favourite Petticoat made an abrupt shift outwards some five horses. It was certainly the difference between winning and losing for the Coffs Harbour mare, but credit where it’s due. Zouripper had given her a big start from the 600m and was able to win despite being in the worst part of the H8 track. It’s also on record that he conceded Petticoat a kilo in weight. Zouripper’s racing manners were to the fore as he extended his head and went as straight as a gunbarrel to the line. The win completed a winning double for in-form jockey Reece Jones who’d won the opening race on Proxima Dea.

Once again trainer Joe Pride’s astute judgement paved the way for Zouripper’s win. The trainer had accepted with the horse for a BM72 over 1250m at Canterbury three days earlier, but opted to scratch because of a wide gate and a very heavy track. “I felt he was up to Saturday class and would get his chance to balance up and finish off better at Randwick, especially if the field happened to fall away a bit,” said Pride. “That’s exactly what happened. Four scratchings reduced the field to only seven which gave Reece the opportunity to let him find his feet. I don’t mind switching horses back in distance on heavy tracks. I think heavy going changes the situation completely.”

The pace was on from the outset in Saturday’s contest when Power Of The Brave catapulted from the outside gate to cross and lead easily from Mountain Top with Petticoat settling in third ahead of well supported Prima Bella. Zouripper was next outside Sociable with Indefensible last of the seven at the 600m. Zouripper was some eight lengths from the leader Power Of The Brave on the turn with Petticoat poised to pop out of her trailing position. Reece Jones elected to probe for runs inside horses at the 200m and was pleased to see that gaps were plentiful. Just as Petticoat was being hailed the winner Zouripper loomed large on her inside with Prima Bella struggling to reach them. As Petticoat wandered outwards, Zouripper knuckled down to the task and was able to snare a narrow but meritorious win.

Opinions were divided when Zouripper (inside) hit the line on Saturday. Zouripper got the "bob" to win by an eyebrow - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

The royally bred five year old was having only his third start for the Pride stable. First up he’d been unplaced but not far behind Island Dec at Canterbury, while his next outing produced a half length second to Ready to Shine at Rosehill on June 27th. He continued his upward trajectory to win on Saturday and will get the opportunity to do so again during the winter period. Zouripper began his racing career with John Thompson and interestingly didn’t race as a two year old, a decision that has obviously served the gelding well. Under the Thompson banner he won a 2&3YO maiden at Canterbury, a Cl 1 at Kembla Grange and a BM72 on a H10 at Warwick Farm last August.

Saturday’s win took his record to eighteen starts for 4 wins, 3 placings and $264,000 in prize money.

There are few better credentialed horses working through the grades

than Zouripper. He’s by Widden Stud’s Zoustar who’s at the top of the 2026 stallion service fee list at a mind boggling $275,000, unchanged from last year. That eye watering fee didn’t stop the owners of celebrity mares like Bella Nipotina and Via Africa (dam of Autumn Glow) from paying him a visit in 2025. Zouripper’s mum, the Smart Missile mare Ineffable was tried by trainer Phillip Stokes in Adelaide but quickly retired after two lacklustre barrier trial performances. She was in foal to Written Tycoon when purchased by Marc and Lindy De Stoop’s Parsons Creek Farm at the 2019 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale. Despite his flash pedigree the Written Tycoon colt under the name of Among Us managed only one win in 41 starts, an Esk maiden two years ago.

Zouripper wins a BM72 on a heavy track at Warwick Farm 20/08/2025 when trained by John Thompson. Jockey was Nash Rawiller - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Zouripper’s second dam is none other than the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Kitalpha who achieved lasting stud book prominence as the dam of Capitalist, Australia’s top two year old performer in the 2015/2016 season. The Written Tycoon colt’s four wins came in the Breeder’s Plate, the Wyong Magic Millions Qualifier, the Magic Millions Gold Coast Classic and the Golden Slipper, all on the watch of that elite two year old trainer Peter Snowden. Curiously Capitalist is a three quarter brother to the aforementioned moderate performer Among Us.

Sadly Kitalpha’s breeding life was cut short when she died a few weeks after foaling Ineffable in 2015. Zouripper’s third dam is Compulsion, a one win daughter of Danehill who now basks in the afterglow of being the granddam of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist.

Capitalist confirmed his reputation as Australia's top 2yo of 2015/2016 with a gutsy win over Yankee Rose in the Golden Slipper - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Capitalist isn’t the only Magic Millions winner to appear in the pedigree of Zouripper whose fourth dam is Bold Promise, a brilliant filly of the 1990’s. She was around at the time when two editions of the Magic Millions were run - one for fillies and one for colts and geldings a week later. If adequately qualified and tough enough, fillies were eligible to back up against the colts and geldings. Bold Promise was certainly adequately qualified after winning the fillies division by more than five lengths, and tough enough to beat the colts and geldings for fun seven days later.

Winner of eight races all up, Bold Promise went on to achieve broodmare fame as the dam of Merlene, that professional little Danehill filly whose five wins included the Golden Slipper and AJC Sires Produce Stakes of 1996. Bold Promise subsequently produced the dual Gr 1 winner Miss Pennymoney to the imported American stallion Brocco. When you look at the talent stored away in Zouripper’s family tree, is it any wonder he’s winning races at Royal Randwick.

Until recently Joe Pride hasn’t had room for more than fifty horses at his Warwick Farm base, a number that has suited him down to the ground. The offer of an additional twenty boxes has coincided with an influx of horses owned by the Godolphin operation. “Godolphin gave me twenty one horses when their training format changed last year, but several of those have subsequently been moved on,” says Joe. “Just recently they sent me another ten rising two year olds, so we’ve got some work to do in the months ahead. I intend to fill the remaining ten boxes in the near future which will take our numbers to seventy, the biggest team I’ve had since my training career began twenty five years ago. Mind you it’s still a small number compared to the teams being trained by some of the high profile stables.”

Given the limited number of horses he’s trained to date, Joe’s record is startlingly impressive - 1372 winners, 23 Gr 1’s, 32 Gr 2’s, 47 Gr 3’s and 61 at listed level. He’s already lauded for his astute judgement, cool head and professionalism. Waiting in the wings at the Pride establishment is Joe’s twenty year old son Brave, whose future is set in stone. Totally besotted by the racing game and the art of horse training, Brave not only bears a strong resemblance to his father but is clearly intent on following an identical career path. Currently a valued member of the ground staff, Brave Pride will almost certainly become Joe’s training partner when he’s ready to make the transition.

Brave Pride was just 14 when he and Joe got together to offer encouragement to a stable runner at Canberra 08/03/2020 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Putting the microscope on key members of the Pride team we’ve come up with two “oldies” and one freshman. Joe is clearly excited about the return-to-work of his old favourite Ceolwulf whose record stands at only 27 starts for 7 wins, 7 placings and a prize money tally snapping at the heels of $11 million dollars. His Gr 1 tally numbers four, but it’s a pretty tidy quartet - Epsom, two editions of the King Charles and a Champion’s Mile at Flemington last November. “He had only a brief let up following the Melbourne win after which he presented with a niggling foot issue,” said Joe. “Like many horses with prominent white stockings he’s very soft and shelly in the walls of the feet, and from time to time it’s necessary to let it grow out. Following two disappointing runs early this year we decided to put him away for the best spell he’s had in a long time. It turned out to be three months in fact. He’s only a fortnight away from the trials and looks fantastic. His feet are great and he’s a happy horse.”

Godolphin’s Attica is also nearing a trial after an important change to his undercarriage and a good spell. The lightly raced Lonhro gelding has won three from eight so far including the Gr 1 Spring Champion Stakes, despite not giving his utmost as a colt. “I guess it was a bonus to win that Gr 1 because he really had his mind on other things,” said Joe. “He’s a different horse as a gelding. He’s now fully focused and enjoying his job. Looking forward to his Spring campaign.”

Attica won the 2025 Spring Champion Stakes as a colt. He's about to begin his spring preparation as a gelding - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Joe can’t help but notice the special attention Brave has been paying lately to a rising four year old called Castlejohn. The gelding races in the Headley Grange colours and has registered a win and a sixth from two runs to date. He showed plenty of race sense in winning a Super Maiden at Warwick Farm in March and wasn’t disgraced in finishing sixth, not far from Call Me Gorgeous in a BM72 a couple of weeks later. Brave’s special interest in Castlejohn is motivated simply by the fact that he owns a small share in the son of Castelvecchio. “Every time I look at the horse I like him a little bit more,” says Joe.” “His attitude is good and he’s already shown he can gallop. He’s got a long way to go to catch up with Headley Grange, but he’s away to a good start.”

ZOURIPPER HAS INHERITED SOME OF THE FAMILY TALENT

DARK GLITTER’S OVERDUE WIN WAS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED FOR TRAINER MIKE VAN GESTEL