Dazzling debut books for Zoustar and Roaring Lion at Tweenhills

As exciting young Australian sire Zoustar continues to wow visitors to Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire with his impressive physique, the operation has shed light on some of the blue-chip mares he will cover in his first northern hemisphere breeding season.

The son of Northern Meteor – Australia's runaway leading freshman sire of 2017-18 and already source of seven stakes winners including the first three home in the prestigious Coolmore Stud Stakes in Sunlight, Zousain and Lean Mean Machine – is co-owned by Qatar Racing and is being granted strong home support.

Among those Qatar Racing mares pencilled in to visit him are Group 3 winners Lightening Quick, by Frankel out of Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Lightening Pearl; Ainippe, a daughter of Captain Rio who also finished third in the Matron Stakes; and La Rioja, a Hellvelyn mare who ran a close fourth in the Commonwealth Cup.

Other names on Zoustar's dance card are the stakes winners Ripples Maid, a daughter of Dansili who is the dam of last year's Grade 1 Shuka Sho runner-up Mikki Charm; Wind Fire, a Distorted Humor mare who reached the places in the Norfolk, Lowther, Flying Childers and Temple Stakes; and the speedy pair Beldale Memory and Out Of The Flames, by the half-brothers Camacho and Showcasing.

Tweenhills also confirmed that among the key outside mares visiting Zoustar this year are Group 1 winner Temida and Lady Linda, the dam of German Oaks scorer Penelopa, both owned by Litex Commerce; Ruby Rocket, the Listed-winning dam of Prix de l'Abbaye winner Maarek co-owned by New England Stud; and Cherry Hinton Stakes scorer Please Sing from Langton Stud.

“Zoustar has received a predictably pleasing reception from the breeders who have been to see him in the short time he has been here,” said Tweenhills Stud owner and Qatar Racing manager David Redvers.

“He's been heavily oversubscribed and his book of mares reflects the success he has already enjoyed in Australia. Those breeders who have taken the initiative and booked in mares are sure to be well rewarded.”

Redvers also gave an update on the stellar debut book of mares fellow Tweenhills newcomer Roaring Lion – hailed as the best three-year-old globally in 2018 in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings – will receive in the coming months.

In addition to the talented racemares Molly Malone, Purr Along and Rich Legacy confirmed to the Racing Post in November, are Qatar Racing's Group 1 heroines Just The Judge (owned in partnership with China Horse Club), Lightening Pearl and Simple Verse.

Further elite Qatar Racing mares heading to Roaring Lion include Australian Group 2 winner and Irish 1,000 Guineas third Now Or Never, Albany Stakes scorer and Group 1-placed Kiyoshi and Group 3 winner and Prix Saint-Alary second Wekeela.

Outside mares booked into the outstanding son of Kitten's Joy include Group/Grade 1 winners Bateel (owned by Al Asayl Bloodstock), Giofra (Haras de la Perelle), and Baltic Baroness and Golden Lilac (both Gestut Ammerland), as well as the three-time Grade 2 winner Naissance Royale from Ecurie des Monceaux.

The third newcomer to the Qatar Racing stallion roster at Tweenhills this year, Sussex Stakes winner Lightning Spear, is also being granted the assistance of some mares with strong credentials in his first book.

He will cover Qatar Racing's own Group 3-winning two-year-old Dark Reckoning, plus Honorine, the dam of Irish Derby hero Treasure Beach, and Diary, who has produced Group 1 performers Total Gallery and Lady Darshaan.

Also bound for Lightning Spear is Our Poppet, the dam of superstar Hungarian sprinter Overdose, from Whatton Manor Stud.

Lightning Spear, a son of Pivotal, is standing his first season at a fee of £8,500, while Roaring Lion has been introduced to breeders at £40,000 and Zoustar is pitched at £25,000.

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