From the Queensland winter carnival to stardom

If recent history is anything to go by, a star or two could be unearthed at Queensland’s winter carnival in the coming months. Here are just some noteworthy gallopers who have used a trip to the sunshine state as a springboard to better things in recent times.

The Autumn Sun

The Autumn Sun arrived in Brisbane last winter as a 2YO with two starts to his name (both wins) and left as a G1 winner of the JJ Atkins. The Chris Waller-trained colt went on to win a further four G1s and finished his career with eight wins from nine starts.

Winx

Winx’s phenomenal streak of 33 straight wins started with that ridiculous last-to-first Sunshine Coast Guineas victory in 2015. The Sunshine Coast success was followed by Winx’s first G1 win in the Queensland Oaks a couple of weeks later. When Winx arrived in Queensland that year her record stood at four wins from 10 starts.

Redzel

Redzel was a quality, multiple black-type winning sprinter heading into the 2017 winter carnival but he certainly wasn’t the star he went on to become. He picked up his first G1 in the Doomben 10,000 before going on to win the The Everest and the G1 Darley Classic down south that spring. Now a two-time winner of The Everest, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained gelding has earned more than $15.5 million in prizemoney.

Brazen Beau

Brazen Beau had a maiden win and a Lonhro Plate fifth on his resume when Chris Waller set him for the Queensland carnival as a 2YO in 2014. The son of I am Invincible made an immediate impact, winning the G2 Champagne Classic first-up before registering back-to-back seconds in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and the G1 JJ Atkins. That was the start of successful, albeit brief, career in Group events, with Brazen Beau later winning the G2 Roman Consul Stakes, the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and the G1 Newmarket Handicap. He headed to the breeding barn after 12 starts, having won five times and run second on four occasions.

Santa Ana Lane

Perhaps cheating a little here because Santa Ana Lane was already a two-time G1 winner when he went to Brisbane for a successful hit-and-run raid in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap. But he’s certainly done plenty more since taking out the prestigious event. Now being set for tasks on the international stage, he won last spring’s G1 VRC Sprint Classic and was most recently seen taking out the G1 TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney.

Zoustar

Zoustar registered his first Group win in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes of 2013 before running second in the G1 JJ Atkins. After putting the writing on the wall in Queensland as 2YO, he shone in both Sydney and Melbourne as a 3YO, winning both the G1 Golden Rose and the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. Now a sire of note, the son of Northern Meteor retired with a record of six wins from nine starts.

Press Statement

Just like with other horses on this list, leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller gave Press Statement his first opportunity at Group level in Brisbane as a 2YO. The son of Hinchinbrook won the 2015 G1 JJ Atkins at just his second start before a spring prep that saw him win the G2 Stan Fox Stakes and G1 Caulfield Guineas. In his final campaign during the 2016 autumn, Press Statement won the G2 Hobartville Stakes and also placed in both the G1 Randwick Guineas (won by Le Romain) and the G1 George Ryder Stakes (won by Winx).

Werther

Before Werther became a star in Hong Kong, he finished his Australasian career as a 3YO at the 2015 winter carnival. In his two starts in Queensland, Werther defeated older rivals in the G2 Eagle Farm Cup before finishing second in the G1 Queensland Derby on the quick back-up. In 2015/2016 he was named Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year.