Lean Mean Machine upstages stablemate in red-letter day for Zoustar

Zoustar asserted his authority over his first-season sire rival Spirit Of Boom when his two-year-old sons Lean Mean Machine and Zousain completed a one-two for the sire in the Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes over 1350m at Doomben on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained Lean Mean Machine overhauled his more fancied stablemate and BRC Champagne Stakes winner Zousain by three quarters of a length.

Spirit Of Boom gelding Boomsara and Sizzling filly Sizzling Ace dead-heated for third, a short head away.

Widden Stud-based Zoustar is locked in a battle with Eureka Stud-based Spirit Of Boom for the leading first-season sire title, with the former siring seven winners and three at stakes level. Spirit Of Boom is the sire of 16 winners and four at stakes level.

The BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes was thrown into disarray prerace when the well-backed favourite Graff and Adoradiva were declared late scratchings after drama in the barriers.

View BRC Sires' Produce Stakes result

Waller will target the mile Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes in mid-June with Lean Mean Machine and Zousain, while he will also have unbeaten Redoute's Choice colt The Autumn Sun in the race after winning at Randwick on Saturday.

"Lean Mean Machine is a very good horse," said Waller. "He had no luck at the Gold Coast at his previous start and I told Corey (Brown) to ride him like he was the best horse and go straight back from his bad barrier today."

Zousain led in the Sires’ Produce Stakes and Waller said that had not suited him.

"He is still getting used to going from 1200 metres to 1350 metres. But he will improve for it," he said. "The Autumn Sun is in preparation behind these two but is also very promising."

Kerrin McEvoy, who rode Zousain, said the colt did not settle early and had still battled on well.

Glyn Schofield said Sizzling Ace probably should have run second after being forced to alter course in the straight.

Waller trained Pressday and Zoustar to win the race in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

Meanwhile, the win by Lean Mean Machine provided his sire with his third stakes winner, joining Zousain and the Tony McEvoy-trained Sunlight, a Group 2 winner who also took out the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.

Zoustar, who will stand at Widden Stud for A$60,500 (£34,400/€39,200) (including GST) this year, leads the first-season sires’ table by earnings with A$2,627,185 in prize-money, ahead of Spirit Of Boom whose juveniles have earned A$1,739,320.

An A$250,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Aquis Farm, Raffles Racing and Blue Sky Bloodstock from the Glenlogan Park draft, Lean Mean Machine, who won his first start at Warwick Farm in March, has earned A$221,194 in prize-money from his two wins and two thirds.

Lean Mean Machine is the third and final foal out of Listed winner She’s Meaner, who is a Falvelon half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Love Conquers All and the stakes-placed She’s Bella.

Zoustar was the leading sire by average at last week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, with 15 foals selling for an aggregate of A$2,425,000 at an average of A$161,667.

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