Giant galloper Zippity Zoustar posted a bitter-sweet victory at Werribee on Saturday with the win marking the end of his career.
The five-year-old landed a spectacular betting plunge when he was backed from $7.50 to $2.70 favourite in the Werribee Centrals Football Club 0-58 Hcp (1400m) but can’t race again after suffering a second bleeding attack.
Trainer Jamie Edwards said he feared the horse wasn’t right when he crossed the finish line and he returned to scale with blood in both nostrils, with jubilation turning to great disappointment.
“We had great hopes for the horse, and he goes into retirement very much untapped,” Jamie said.
On Saturday Zippity Zoustar was having his third start since suffering his first bleeding attack at Ballarat in October.
“After Ballarat, he was heavily treated for bleeding and we left no stone unturned to give him every chance of racing on,” Jamie said.
“Unfortunately, the combination of a really heavy track and tough run bottomed him at Werribee and he bled again.”
Given a top ride from the outside gate by Patrick Moloney, Zippity Zoustar was a length second behind the leader and had too much firepower in the home straight, scoring by nearly a length from Lord Porchester ($10) and Headsmart ($9).
Trainer Jamie Edwards said he was expecting a big run third up from the son of Zoustar with his only query being the race distance.
“I wasn’t sure he would be sharp enough for 1400m but when the track was downgraded to a heavy 8 it gave us more confidence,” Jamie said.
He said Patrick Moloney did a great job summing up the race early and getting Zippity Zoustar into a forward position and that he looked the winner a long way from home.
“We went there thinking he could be right in the finish with the right run as we knew he would be hitting the line hard,” Jamie said.
“It’s just really disappointing for the owners and everyone connected with the horse that he won’t be going to the races again.”
Zippity Zoustar was city placed twice and finished his career with two wins, two seconds and three thirds from 18 starts and earned $66,265 in prizemoney.
Jamie said while Zippity Zoustar had his racing career cut short with the mandatory ban, he would create great interest as an equestrian horse.
“He’s a lovely big horse and it won’t be hard to find him a new home,” Jamie said.