Zou Sensation set for Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes after third straight win at Flemington
The in-form Zoustar gelding, trained by Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin, raced keenly early and through the middle stages but maintained a strong gallop under 'passenger' Jamie Melham.
Melham rolled forward from barrier 10, hopeful of being able to settle nicely, but Zou Sensation had other ideas.
It mattered not at the finish though for the stable, jockey and connections as Zou Sensation held off Running By and Fortunate Kiss.
'I was an absolute passenger then,' Melham said.
'From the wide draw I thought that might happen, I wanted to let him bounce and be where he was but the second we landed he was just in too much of a good mood.
'For him to win like that is very impressive. The team has got this horse absolutely peaking.
'He's run so well, I just wish he would control himself early because he'd be next level this horse, anyway, he's winning so we're happy.'
ZOU SENSATION 🎸🎷
Three in a row for the Corstens/Larkin trained gelding as @jamieleekah07 opens her 2025/26 account! pic.twitter.com/7baXvwDbLo
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 2, 2025
Despite the run, Melham felt comfortable in the straight when challenged.
'He's such an arrogant horse, he was always going to win and when they got to him and he pinned his ears back,' Melham said.
'He wasn't going to let them pass him. He's just an arrogant horse, he knows he's good.'
Larkin said Zou Sensation warranted Sir Rupert Clarke consideration.
'He's definitely a horse starting to put his hand up as someone who could probably go to the Rupert Clarke,' Larkin said.
'We'll look at that and how he gets there we'll work it out.'
Larkin said Zou Sensation would appreciate racing in the better grades where the tempo is faster.
'He's definitely a better horse when he's chasing and allowed to get cover,' Larkin said.
'In those better races there's going to be better tempo and he's going to be allowed to do that.'
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