First Australian Winner for Zoffany

Less than 24 hours after siring his first Southern Hemisphere bred winner in South Africa, exciting young sire Zoffany posted his first Australian winner with Persistent Shadow (2f Zoffany x Green Mirage, by Green Desert) scoring a dominant victory as favourite.

A close third on debut at Rockhampton a week ago, the Peter Fleming trained filly gave her rivals a galloping lesson at Mackay in the 1050 metre maiden as she raced away to win by four lengths.

A modest $4,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase from the Mane Lodge draft, she is the fourth winner from Green Desert mare Green Mirage, a winning grand-daughter of French Group I winner Loving Claim from the family of Australian stakes-winner Soft Sand.

The current yearling from Green Mirage, a stunning colt by Zoffany, was much admired at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale this year fetching $300,000 for Coolmore when secured by Jadeskye Racing/ Gerald Ryan.

Zoffany sired 33 first crop winners in Europe last year including five stakes-winners to be Champion First Season Sire. Interestingly, two of his European stakes-winners Illuminate and Washington DC are from Green Desert line mares, which might be something worth noting for the future.

His burgeoning results in Europe last year sparked considerable interest in Zoffany from Australian breeders and he covered an impressive 213 mares in Australia last spring.