Charlie Riding High After Lou's Healesville Cup Win

CHARLIE Azzopardi will turn 66 in October and admits he's “having a bit of fun”.

That fun includes Zambora Lou's Group 3 Healesville Cup victory on Sunday to continue the rampaging success of emerging young stud dog Zambora Brockie a dog Charlie owned to win 31 races and $531,000 in stakes under the tutelage of Anthony Azzopardi.

Zambora Lou is from Zambora Brockie's brilliant litter from the Barcia Bale -Benden Snap bitch Zambora Cross.

The classy sprinter downed a gallant Paua Of Oscar and Aston Pilsener to score over the 350 metre course in 18.98 for Jason Thompson.

Riding a successful high with the litter and the success at stud of Zambora Brockie, Charlie was in a buoyant mood.

“That Brockie will take over from Fernando Bale as the best sire in the country,” he said.

“He is so popular with breeders we cannot keep up with the demand.”

The multiple Group 1 winner, Brockie is producing young superstars around the country and they sprint and stay.

“He probably would have become the very best stayer in the country if he had been tried,” said Charlie of Zambora Brockie.

Of Zambora Lou and his classy littermates, Charlie says plans are for Lou to stay in Victoria with a country Cups campaign, while litter brother Zambora Smokey is likely to head to NSW with the Million Dollar Chase his target.

“Zambora Lou probably should have won the Horsham Cup earlier in the year but he came down with the canine coronavirus,” said Charlie. “It was great to see him win the Cup at Healesville – he deserved it.”

With every success story also comes heartache.

“While all the litter can run, unfortunately we lost the very best one as a pup,” said Charlie.

“It was Zambora Markie who ran near track record time winning his first two starts then fell and broke a leg at his third.

“He was the next Brett Lee.”

Dam Zambora Cross has since had one pup in a mating to Collision and her next litter will be by Black Magic Opal.