Zouluminous Lights Up Riccarton

Racing in terrific form, Zouluminous  (5 m Zoustar - Luminous Harmony, by Fastnet Rock) made it back-to-back victories when claiming the $17,000 ODT Southern Mile Qualifier Rating 74 1600 metres on 25 February at Riccarton.

Zouluminous had won her last course attempt on 10 November, during a terrific day for Te Akau, following wins by Summer Monsoon (Stratum) in the Stewards' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) and Markus Aurelius (Ghibellines) in Coupland's Bakeries Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m), she took out Rating 74 1800 metres during Cup Week at Riccarton.

Freshened and trialled, she resumed in a Rating 74 1400 metres on 30 December at Kurow, finishing just off them, and capitalised on a good trip with a strong victory in a Rating 74 1600 metres on 15 January at Wingatui.

Scratched on 12 February from the Banks Peninsula Cup (Open, 1800m) because of heavy footing, it ended up 41 days between runs but it mattered little.

Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, notching a hat-trick on the programme, was positive from the wide gate (12) before sharing the lead, travelling well on straightening and quickening clear to win dominantly.

On Dead4 footing, Zouluminous ran 1600 metres in 1:35.8 and paid $4.70 & $2.10 on NZ TAB tote.

“The owners agreed to leave her in the south after the rest of our Cup Week horses we had stabled at Riccarton came back north,” said trainer Jamie Richards, after succeeding for the seventh time from his last 12 runners.

“The Didham's, Les and Richard, are great friends that train at Riccarton and they've helped us out when campaigning horses down there for a number of years. They're great horsemen and I can't thank them enough.

“I'm thrilled for the owners and the mare is really flying, having won three of her last four starts, and Joe (Kamaruddin) is riding the crest of a wave. He's oozing confidence and it's great to see him racking up the wins.”

Seldom guilty of sub-par performances, Zouluminous has won five races and placed in seven, from 23 starts.

Owned by the Te Akau Shining Light Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Zouluminous was purchased by David Ellis CNZM, from the draft of Rosemont Stud, at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Her dam Luminous Harmony (Fastnet Rock) won four races to 1400 metres in Australia, is a sister to highly talented dual Group 3 winner Neena Rock, and has left three individual winners of 10 races.

“As I said after her last win at Wingatui, I remember her winning her Maiden over 1600 metres by a big margin at Wanganui, and she's just continued to get better,” Ellis said.

“It's been a great decision to leave her down there and she's now won five race. She looks like she could stretch out to 2000 metres and that will open up the prospect of more wins.

“It was Joe's third win in a row on the card, that's quite an outstanding achievement, and he's now the leading apprentice in New Zealand. He has the goal to become Champion Apprentice, joining the likes of Opie Bosson, Troy Harris and James McDonald, who were champion apprentices at Te Akau, and we'll give him all the support we can.”

Ellis has been on the road inspecting yearlings ahead of Karaka 2022, which commences on Monday 7 March.

“We'll be shifting to Auckland for the sale and very excited about it,” he said. “We've done the rounds of farms and inspected all the yearlings and once on site at Karaka we'll be able to go and inspect the ones we like again.

“From there, we'll create a shortlist, put in the extra time and thought, and hopefully be able to buy them at the price we're prepared to pay.”

Zouluminous was strapped by Richard Didham.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz