Canberra Cheers Home Local Winner as $2,000 Zoustar Filly Breaks Through 🏆

There was plenty to celebrate at Canberra on Friday as lightly raced filly Wish You Were Here broke through for her maiden victory in the TAB Same Race Multi Handicap (1280m) — and sent the local crowd to the bar in the process.

The three-year-old Zoustar filly was picked up for just $2,000 from the Inglis Digital Late April Sale by owner Peter Lewis, who clearly saw value where others didn’t. By one of Australia’s leading sires — Zoustar, who commands a $275,000 service fee and currently tops the national sires’ table — it was a savvy purchase at a fraction of what you’d expect for that kind of pedigree.

After two unplaced runs in Victoria over staying trips, the filly was listed for auction and quickly snapped up. She joined the Canberra-based stable in early May and was reset straight away. Dropping sharply back in distance and lining up for just her second start for the new yard, she turned things around in style. Apprentice Coriah Keatings gave her a patient ride, settling one-out, one-back before peeling out on the turn and letting down with a strong finish to win by 2.5 lengths. 🥇

The win capped off a great result for the locals. With only three Canberra-trained runners in the field, the Canberra Racing Club had promised to shout the bar if two of them could run the quinella — and when they did, locals were lining up for a drink on the club. 🍻

All credit to Peter Lewis for identifying the filly. A $2,000 purchase, now with a win on the board and plenty of racing to come. Wish You Were Here looks to be a smart bit of business.