Zou Sensation could target the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2025

Zou Sensation is set to be tested in top-class company after posting his third consecutive win in Saturday’s $150,000 Victorian Jockeys’ Association Trophy at Flemington.

The Zoustar gelding, now a six-year-old, delivered a strong front-running performance over 1410m to continue his rich vein of form.

Having also claimed two wins at Caulfield, co-trainer Will Larkin – who trains the gelding with Leon and Troy Corstens – confirmed the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next month is under serious consideration.

“He’s definitely a horse that is starting to put his hand up as one that could probably go to a Rupert Clarke in time,” Larkin said.

“We’ll probably be looking at that and, how he gets there, we’ll work it out.

“I think he’s definitely a better horse when he’s chasing and allowed to get cover, so when we go up in grade and get into those better races there’s going to be better tempo and he’s probably going to be allowed to do that.”

Given a positive ride by Jamie Melham from a wide barrier, the $2.30 betting site favourite held on bravely to defeat Running By ($13) by a long head, with Fortunate Kiss ($11) a further long neck away in third.

Melham said the gelding’s competitive streak was part of his appeal.

“He was always going to win then they got to him and he pinned his ears back and got angry and was not going to let them past him,” Melham said.

“He’s just an arrogant horse. He knows he’s good.”

Saturday’s success was Zou Sensation’s seventh win from 25 career starts, taking his total earnings to more than $500,000.