Zoustyle set to sizzle in Swiss Ace

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Tony Gollan’s dominance of the TAB Queensland Summer Racing Carnival looks set to continue when gifted sprinter Zoustyle makes his comeback in the Swiss Ace Plate at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Gollan - an eight-time premiership winner - got off to a flying start in the lead up to this year's carnival when he claimed his fifth Listed Keith Noud Stakes with Tambo’s Mate at Doomben last week.

Zoustyle - a Ryan Maloney mount - will be one of four Gollan starters along with The Move, Garibaldi and Niedorp in the 1000-metre feature, named in honour of Caloundra trainer Mick Mair’s former Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner.

Zoustyle’s career has been plagued by a series of setbacks, including a bleeding attack in the Group 3 Maurice Garten at Rosehill in 2020 which required a mandatory three-month spell.

He was later ruled out of last year’s summer carnival with a ligament injury after winning first-up at the Gold Coast in September.

The six-year-old was sent to noted horse healer Lee Evison in Victoria for his rehabilitation and showed he was ready for his comeback winning a 1000-metre barrier trial at Eagle Farm last month.

“He was down with Lee for around eight to nine months and when he came home he had a good six-week spell,” Gollan said.

A winner of seven of his 11 starts, Zoustyle was once rated by Gollan as the best sprinter he had trained before his setbacks.

Zoustyle is not eligible for the Magic Millions and will need to earn a wildcard entry for the feature race day in January, if Gollan decides to head that way.

“I’m taking things one race at a time with him and he could have his next start in the George Moore next month,” Gollan said.

“He’s had one jump out and won a barrier trial well and I’m very happy with the way he’s coming along.

“I’ve got four runners in this race and all four are in good shape but they’ll take different paths after Saturday.”

Gollan is also delighted with The Move who will be aiming to extend his winning sequence to five following his latest victory over 900 metres at the Gold Coast in mid-September.

“He’s in great shape and has been working very strongly but Zoustyle is pretty sharp over a short course and facts and figures point to him,” he said.