Bjorn Baker has landed himself a Group 1 VRC Derby Day victory with his well-bred Zoustar colt Ozzmosis now a very valuable stallion prospect after an all-the-way upset in the 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes results.
2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis was excellent leading all-the-way in an upset. Photo: Steve Hart.
The son of a former champion of the same race with Zoustar successful back in 2013 for trainer Chris Waller, Ozzmosis went around at a price in this year’s Group 1 $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) after finishing third as the beaten favourite at Rosehill last time out on October 7 in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).
He made the trip down south and had his first start down the iconic ‘Straight Six’ at Flemington in the Coolmore which he looked to love leading from barrier to box.
“Amazing. Unreal,” a very happy Baker told Racing.com post-win.
“This horse has been outstanding. So thrilled to be here.
“He’s a superstar.
“I was very confident he’d run well today.
“Derby racing, amazing.
“I don’t know why he started the price he did.
“It’s a massive day, you want to be here competing as a trainer and we’ve got a Zoustar colt going to stud.”
Jockey Rachel King, who is gearing up for her ride on Military Mission for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott in Tuesday’s Group 1 $8.41 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), rode the Coolmore Stud Stakes winner to perfection.
With a few others not wanting the front, King was happy to take up the lead on the eventual champ who was two strong holding off his rivals in the big 16-horse field.
Waller’s Golden Slipper winner from the autumn, Shinzo, tried hard over the final furlong looking to reel in the winner but just couldn’t get there and was also run down in the final few strides to finish a disappointing but gallant third.
After extending his position with 50m to go Ozzmosis ($18) was just too tough and came away with a one and a quarter-length victory.
The consistent Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans-trained I Am Invincible colt I Am Unstoppable ($6), who was heavily backed on race day, was held up at a key stage before bursting through to fly home late and snare second in his spring grand final.
It was his third second placing in as many starts at the track after close calls in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) and Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) earlier this spring.
2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | OZZMOSIS | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 4 | 57kg | $18 | |||
| 2 | 10 | I AM UNSTOPPABLE | Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans | Blake Shinn | 1.25L | 10 | 57kg | $6 | ||
| 3 | 1 | SHINZO | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1.45L | 2 | 57kg | $4.60 | ||
| 4 | 7 | ARKANSAW KID | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Jye McNeil | 2.45L | 13 | 57kg | $41 | ||
| 5 | 4 | VEIGHT | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Ms Jamie Kah | 2.55L | 15 | 57kg | $10 | ||
| 6 | 16 | NADAL | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ben Allen | 3.55L | 12 | 57kg | $31 | ||
| 7 | 18 | STRETAN ANGEL | Phillip Stokes | Daniel Stackhouse | 3.75L | 14 | 55kg | $8 | ||
| 8 | 13 | BUTCH CASSIDY | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jamie Spencer | 4.75L | 16 | 57kg | $26 | ||
| 9 | 17 | TIZ INVINCIBLE | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Harry Coffey | 6.25L | 7 | 55kg | $15 | ||
| 10 | 19 | TREASURWAY | Jason Warren | Billy Egan | 6.45L | 6 | 55kg | $201 | ||
| 11 | 9 | SCHEELITE | Ken & Kasey Keys | Luke Nolen | 6.55L | 9 | 57kg | $51 | ||
| 12 | 12 | MEXICO | Michael Freedman | Jordan Childs | 6.75L | 8 | 57kg | $101 | ||
| 13 | 2 | CYLINDER | James Cummings | Tim Clark | 6.95L | 11 | 57kg | $4.20F | ||
| 14 | 14 | MORAVIA | Michael Freedman | Damien Oliver | 9.2L | 5 | 57kg | $17 | ||
| 15 | 15 | CELUI | Brent Stanley | Craig Newitt | 13.7L | 3 | 57kg | $61 | ||
| 16 | 3 | DON CORLEONE | Peter & Paul Snowden | Opie Bosson | 16.7L | 1 | 57kg | $61 | ||
| 8 | SNAPBACK | Peter & Paul Snowden | Ms Winona Costin | 0 | ||||||
| 5 | KING’S GAMBIT | Peter & Paul Snowden | Mark Zahra | 0 | ||||||
| 6 | STEPARTY | Paul Preusker | John Allen | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
