Cover image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 217 - Zoustar x The Actuary (Sebring) (filly) - $2,600,000
The momentum of Zoustar continued as Lot 217, a classy filly out of the talented juvenile The Actuary (Sebring), attracted a flurry of bids before ultimately being knocked down for $2.6 million to John Stewart of Resolute Racing — marking Widden Stud’s third million-dollar offering for the sale by their outstanding stallion.
The Actuary was a precocious filly herself, winning twice as a juvenile, including the Listed The Phoenix Stakes. This filly is only her second foal and she can obviously leave a stand-out type.
Her first foal, a full brother, was sold at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $760,000 to Highway Farm. Now named Algorithmic (Zoustar), he has shown early promise in his career, running fourth in the Listed Lonhro Plate and fifth in the G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes at his most recent start at Flemington.
Lot 217 - Zoustar x The Actuary (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly also boasts a powerful pedigree on the page. She is a three-quarter-sister to the brilliant three-time Group 1 winner Zougotcha (Zoustar) and Listed winner Persuader (Zoustar). Her third dam, Crystal Wit (Distorted Humor {USA}), was also successful at Listed level and has produced nine individual winners. She is a half-sister to G1 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily (Stratum).
“It’s been an exciting morning!” said Antony Thompson.
“Two lovely Zoustar’s through in the first hour, and obviously, The Actuary has been a star from day one and the filly has been much-admired this week. She's hardly seen a box. We had 260 parades for her, the vets have been from all parts of the world.
“I guess she had that X factor and had international appeal as well, so we're thrilled to see John Stewart of Resolute Racing purchase."
Antony Thompson | Image courtesy of Inglis
When asked about what is involved behind the scenes and how much of a team effort it is to get these results:
“It doesn't just happen, everything you do from investing in mares, to doing the matings is about making sure every step of the way that everything's done right,” said Thompson.
“You know it only takes one little thing and it slips through your fingers, so with these really beautiful and valuable horses, you need a really good team of people, and we're very lucky, we have that great team so it makes us really proud.”
The Actuary has visited Zoustar every year since her retirement to stud. Following this filly, she has produced a full brother. and was again served by him last spring.
Lot 333 - I Am Invincible x Covent Garden (Exceed And Excel) (colt) - $1,800,000
Tom Magnier and Coolmore Stud continued their buying spree in style, winning out in a fierce bidding war for Lot 333 — an I Am Invincible colt secured for $1.8 million.
The colt is the first live foal out of Covent Garden (Exceed And Excel), a half-sister to none other than the legendary Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), the extraordinary mare who claimed an astonishing 25 Group 1 victories.
The colt is also closely related to Group 3 winner El Divino (Snitzel), while his second dam Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar) was a talented mare in her own right, winning seven races including two at Listed level.
A beautifully balanced son of ‘Vinny’, he was offered by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds. It’s a sensational start to Covent Garden’s broodmare career, and Coolmore will no doubt be hoping this colt follows in the footsteps of their past I Am Invincible star colt in Home Affairs.
Lot 333 - I Am Invincible x Covent Garden (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Brian Clarke of Segenhoe Stud was thrilled with the result and was full of praise for the colt, “He was a colt that was always a standout from Day 1, from the day he was born he was a beautiful horse.
“He had the real I Am Invincible quality, beautiful head, great colour, physically very impressive.
“Because of that we always had big expectations coming here, hopefully thinking he will be a million-dollar horse, or one of our better or bigger lots, but to make $1.8 million really exceeded expectations.”
“... we always had big expectations coming here, hopefully thinking he (Lot 333) will be a million-dollar horse, or one of our better or bigger lots, but to make $1.8 million really exceeded expectations.” - Brian Clarke
When asked to describe the colt and some of his characteristics, Clarke mentioned, “The best thing about this horse is his temperament, he’s just the kindest horse, never turned a hair the whole time he has been here.”
Since producing this standout colt, Covent Garden has left a weanling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and was subsequently left empty last spring.
Lot 297 - Zoustar x Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) (colt) - $1,700,000
It was an exciting and emotional moment for Sam and Catriona Williams of Little Avondale Stud, as they celebrated their first ever million-dollar yearling sale. Lot 297, a striking Zoustar colt out of Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), realised $1.7 million when knocked down to Sam Wright and Douglas Whyte.
The colt is the first foal out of Belluci Babe, a winner of the G3 Wenona Girl Handicap. She is a three-quarter-sister to last Saturday’s G3 Carbine Club Stakes winner and the R. Listed "The Kiwi" runner-up Evaporate (Per Incanto {USA}), as well as fellow Per Incanto (USA)-sired Listed winners Magnum (NZ) and Pure Incanto (NZ).
Lot 297 - Zoustar x Belluci Babe (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“It's a huge result, massive result for the stud,” said Little Avondale’s Sam Williams.
“And look, it goes back, we're 85 years old, selling at the National Sales (New Zealand) and we're the oldest in New Zealand. But this colt goes back to the direct descendant of my grandmother's first ever yearling she sold 85 years ago. So this is very satisfying.
“Belluci Babe, we raced over here with a group of guys, we syndicated her on a lease deal.
“She went on to be a pretty damn good racehorse on the track, winning six including the Wenona Stakes. We decided to keep her here to go to Zoustar rather than bring her home that first year."
Sam Williams | Image courtesy of Inglis
When questioned on how he come about selecting Zoustar for his talented mares first mating, Williams said, “Always send them to a proven sire off the track. It's always been a stud policy.
“If you think you've got one of the best ones you've got, go to one of the best ones you can afford, and obviously Zoustar was that boy, and the result has just been magnificent for the stud.
“I've never had a horse have over 200 parades at a sale, and I think, as of the end of today, it was 226.”
“I've never had a horse have over 200 parades at a sale, and I think, as of the end of today, it was 226 (for Lot 297).” - Sam Williams
Since producing this colt, Belluci Babe was served by Russian Revolution and exported to New Zealand, she then left a Russian Revolution weanling colt and was subsequently served by Proisir last spring.
Lot 195 - Snitzel x Subella (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (colt) - $1,500,000
Coolmore Stud’s appetite for Snitzel colts continued as they picked up Lot 195 — a strong colt out of Subella (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), an unraced three-quarter-sister to the outstanding sire Dubawi (Ire) for $1.5 million.
Lot 195 - Snitzel x Subella (Ire) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
This colt is Subella’s first foal, and she’s off to an impressive start to her broodmare career in the sale ring. In addition to her close ties to Dubawi, the family includes Cloak Of Spirits (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a Listed winner and Group 1 placegetter. The colt’s third dam, Zomaradah (GB) (Deploy {GB}), was successful in the G1 Oaks d'Italia and was crowned Champion Older Mare in Ireland in 1999.
Tom Magnier was pleased to secure the Snitzel colt offered by Arrowfield Stud, that has a very attractive European pedigree:
“Very mature, fast-looking horse, being by Snitzel out of a Teofilo mare.
“Obviously he's one of the better Snitzels in the sale, and we’ve had a fair bit of luck with Snitzels (Shinzo and Switzerland), so we'll see how we go and obviously Chris (Waller) is very keen on the horse.”
“... we’ve had a fair bit of luck with Snitzels (Shinzo and Switzerland), so we'll see how we go and obviously Chris (Waller) is very keen on the horse (Lot 195).” - Tom Magnier
“We’re pretty happy, there are some very good horses around the place. He definitely looks like he could be a more forward type.
“We can’t do this without our partners and the people we have in these horses. Fair play to everyone.”
Tom and Charlie Magnier | Image courtesy of Inglis
Since producing this colt, Subella has foaled a Snitzel filly and was again served by the Champion sire last season.
Lot 374 - Snitzel x Festival Miss (Bernardini {USA}) (colt) - $1,500,000
Lot 374 marked the third Snitzel colt purchased by Tom Magnier and Coolmore Stud for over $1 million this sale, as the powerhouse operation paid $1.5 million as they continued to lean into a formula that has already produced elite results with the likes of Shinzo and Switzerland.
This latest addition, knocked down for seven figures, was a beautifully bred colt offered by Tyreel Stud. He is the second foal out of Festival Miss (Bernardini {USA}), a five-time winner who earned black type in the Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic, Listed Placid Ark Stakes, and the Listed Sheila Gwynne Classic.
Lot 374 - Snitzel x Festival Miss (colt) | Image courtesy of Tyreel Stud
The colt hails from a deep West Australian family that descends from the super mare Antique (Metal Storm {Fr}), and includes Group 1-winning talents such as Regal Power (Pierro) and Arcadia Queen (Pierro).
Tyreel Stud’s Linda Monds was emotional and elated following the sale, which marked a significant moment for the boutique operation.
“I’m actually lost for words which doesn’t happen very often, that was a phenomenal result for our farm, for our team,” she said.
“I’m actually lost for words which doesn’t happen very often, that was a phenomenal result ($1.5 million for Lot 374) for our farm, for our team.” - Linda Monds
“Alex Barlow, our Stud Manager, he encouraged me all the way that this colt will be a standout at Easter, so a huge thanks to Alex for backing him, and we have been very well rewarded.
“He was extremely popular throughout the process of the sales and inspection days.
“But you never know, you never go into the ring with confidence to get those sort of results.”
Asked about Snitzel, who continues to deliver on both the racetrack and in the ring, Monds said, “Unbelievable, what a stallion.
Linda Monds | Image courtesy of Inglis
“I have supported Snitzel for many years now, we have been thrilled with the results we have received, and he gets a champion on the track and that’s what we are after.”
Since foaling this standout colt, Festival Miss has produced a weanling colt by Pierro and was covered by Wootton Bassett (GB) last spring.
Lot 198 - Zoustar x Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt) (colt) - $1,400,000
A red-hot pedigree added another big chapter to its growing legacy on Day 2 of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, with Lot 198 — a full brother to G1 William Reid Stakes hero Schwarz (Zoustar), selling to James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership and Tony Fung Colts for $1.4 million.
Offered by Widden Stud, the muscular Zoustar colt hails from the outstanding broodmare Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt), who continues to raise the bar with every foal. A Group 2 winner herself on the track in the Angus Armanasco Stakes, Summer Sham has now seen five of her yearlings go through the ring for a combined total of $5.25 million — an extraordinary average of $1.05 million.
Lot 198 - Zoustar x Summer Sham (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt’s pedigree is littered with elite names, including his great-granddam, the legendary Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad) — the matriarch of a dynasty responsible for Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Platinum Scissors, and Sliding Cube (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}, who is in turn the dam of Rubick.
James Harron was understandably thrilled with the purchase.
“He was a horse that we all loved as a team right from the beginning, actually from the moment he walked out of his box at the complex,” Harron said.
“He (Lot 198) was a horse that we all loved as a team right from the beginning, actually from the moment he walked out of his box at the complex.” - James Harron
“It’s a very exciting, happening family. A very athletic horse — he’s got a great way about him. We’re delighted to get him.
“He looks like a forward type of Zoustar — good brain, very good middle, just a real muscular horse. Everything about him was racey and fast-twitchy. Fingers crossed — we really loved the horse.”
When asked if the colt was secured for his Colts syndicate, Harron confirmed: “Yes, ourselves and TFI — we’ll work on a trainer at the end of the sale.”
Since producing this exciting colt, Summer Sham has foaled a weanling full sister and was once again served by Zoustar last spring.
Lot 241 - Wootton Bassett (GB) x Upfront (USA) (War Front {USA}) (colt) - $1,400,000
Following the continued success of Wootton Bassett (GB) worldwide and the promise he has shown with his first Australian-bred crop, it came as no surprise that Lot 241 would be hotly contested. The attractive colt was offered by Yarraman Park and ultimately went to Tom Magnier from Coolmore Stud, after they secured him for $1.4 million.
This colt is the fourth foal of Upfront (USA) (War Front {USA}), who was placed on the track in America. She has an impressive record of having three runners for three winners, including Direct (Siyouni {Fr}), a four-time winning sprinter who was also placed in the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes.
This colt’s second dam is the beautifully bred Up (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a dual Group winner and placegetter in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. She has left the Group winner Aspray (USA) (Quality Road {USA}) and the Group-placed duo of Monarch Of Egypt (USA)-Congratulation (H.K.) (American Pharoah {USA}) and Khartoum (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}).
Lot 241 - Wootton Bassett (GB) x Upfront (USA) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Harry Mitchell from Yarraman Park Stud was naturally delighted with the sale: “He was always a lovely, scopey Wootton Bassett with a big international pedigree. We thought Easter was his spot, and we are delighted.”
When asked about his thoughts on the colt being purchased by Team Coolmore and trained by Chris Waller, and how that combination ticks all the boxes, Mitchell said, “Tick, tick, tick. Coolmore are great for the game, and look, they send a lot of mares to I Am Invincible, and they are good friends of ours, so we are delighted they got the colt.
“Chris Waller is one of the great trainers, so we are obviously delighted with that as well.”
Upfront, since producing this colt, has left a weanling filly by Starspangledbanner and was subsequently served by Wootton Bassett last spring.
