Zoutori Aiming For Group 1 Sprint Double

If Zoutori (Zoustar-Atotori, by Haradasun) can win the Gr1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, he will be the first horse to complete the Newmarket/T.J. Smith double since Lankan Rupee (Redoute's Choice) in 2014, reports racing.com. Trained by Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, the 5YO gelding had a tune-up on Friday at Flemington. "He had a beautiful jumpout on Friday – he ran third in that," co-trainer Simon Zahra said. "They ran quite good time, he has done extremely well between runs so we gave him a good hit out. He will head up to Sydney on Thursday and we are excited to get him there and compete in the T.J. Smith and maybe the All Aged Stakes a couple of weeks later." Zoutori hasn't raced since winning the Gr1 Newmarket Handicap on 6 March 2021, with his record standing at 8 wins and 6 placings from 26 starts with earnings over $1.7million. He was a $160,000 graduate from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale out of the Amarina Farm draft. "He has obviously been to Brisbane and he has probably had three or four gallops the reverse way at home and seems to have handled it well," Zahra said. "He is a lot more seasoned now and is quite professional and doing everything right, so we are excited for next Saturday." Zoutori will be ridden by Luke Currie who rode him in the Newmarket.

Zoutori is set for the T.J. Smith on Saturday (pic: Mark Gatt)