Zou’s Sensation-al campaign rolls on in 2025 Kensington Stakes

Zou Sensation’s long and productive campaign reached another high point with victory in Wednesday’s Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington.

The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained galloper proved his resilience once more, outlasting Steparty at the 11th start of a preparation that began back on May 10.

The extended run has yielded five wins, two of them at Listed level, a Group 2 runner-up finish and top-four placings in the highly competitive $1m The Meteorite and The Supernova.

Wednesday’s success delivered a $105,000 first prize and took Zou Sensation’s career earnings beyond $1 million, a figure that reflects his consistency.

“I was actually talking to Will (Larkin) this morning and he said, ‘I reckon I’m going to have a bet today’ and he said, ‘do you think he’s gone (trained) off?’

“I said, ‘mate, he’s as good as he ever is’. But it’s always hard when you’re coming to the end of the preparation and he’s been up for a year.

“He’s just an iron horse. Someone just said to me, ‘are you going to tip him out now’ and I said no. There’s no way I’m tipping him out, he’s going so well, why would you tip him out?”

The son of Zoustar dug deep when challenged, fending off Steparty ($6.50) to claim the win.

Zou Sensation ($4) prevailed by a head with $2.50 bookmakers favourite Persian Spirit finishing two lengths behind in third.

Jamie Melham said the gelding’s relaxed demeanour was a key factor in the victory.

“Today everything was just easy. He was an absolute dream to ride and he was very relaxed,” Melham said.

“That’s how we thought it would play out, the map, and it worked out perfectly.”

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