Written by Paul Vettise
Oscar Zulu (Epaulette) opened his quest to land a major pot of gold and a bonus to boot when he downed a competitive line-up of 3-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding came off a four month break and a quiet trial outing to bomb his rivals in the Schweppes H.
Oscar Zulu was bought out of breeder Gilgai Farm’s draft at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $130,000 and he is being aimed at a Gold Coast return for the rich January carnival.
Oscar Zulu as a yearling
“All you can do is win and we’ll raise the bar higher. He’s obviously eligible for the 3-year-old race at the Magic Millions and he’s owned by a women’s syndicate and there’s an extra bonus as well so that’s the path, but he’ll certainly have another run in Sydney,” Waller said.
Bonus on Coast
A $250,000 bonus is attached to the $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Classic and on offer to all female-owned or leased contenders.
Oscar Zulu had won one of his previous four starts and last preparation and also finished fourth in the G3 Up And Coming S. behind subsequent G1 Golden Rose S. runner-up North Pacific (Brazen Beau) and fifth in the G3 Ming Dynasty S.
“He’s certainly come back well and was running in the right races in the spring and it was a wet spring. We had an opinion of him and it was a good, patient ride,” Waller said.
“He sat back and came into the race at the right time and had the momentum up and carried at all the way through to the line.”
Oscar Zulu settled at the back of the field and once jockey Jason Collett angled him to the outside at the top of the straight the gelding got into his work and sailed home to beat Black Duke (Fiorente {Ire}).
“He did it easily and got to the front quite quickly in the straight. He’s quite classy and his fitness is still to come so you know he’s going to improve with the race and it's exciting for the owners,” Collett said.
Queensland not certain
Ellsberg (Spill The Beans) is also a Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale candidate, but a hollow success in the Precise Air H. in the hands of Tim Clark may not book his passage to Queensland.
The 3-year-old, who had finished third in the G3 Spring S. at Newcastle at his previous outing, led all the way and streaked clear to have 4.3l on runner-up Joliette (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) at the finish.
Watch: Ellsberg win at Rosehill
“He was very well ridden by Tim off the front. I said ride him like Spill The Beans, he doesn’t quicken and more grinds away and builds into it,” co-trainer Gerald Ryan said. “He’s a Magic Millions horse, but whether he goes there I’m not sure.”
Ellsberg was bred by Hillside Downs and a $50,000 Gold Coast weanling purchase for Segenhoe and then bought by Ryan for $280,000 when re-offered at the same venue as a yearling.
