A trio of Zoustar yearlings have topped the first day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, as the market demonstrated some optimism with year-on-year growth.
The average of $47,991, aggregate of $5.2 million and clearance rate of 66 per cent were an improvement on the opening day of last year’s National Sale, while year-on-year the median remained the same.
Enthusiasm for the most recent crop of Zoustar yearlings has been a hallmark of the entire sales season and carried on to what is traditionally the final major yearling sale of the year.
At the top was Lot 1388, a colt out of Group 1 winner No Evidence Needed, who was purchased by David Ellis of Te Akau for $400,000.
Offered by Baramul Stud, he is a half-brother to Te Akau’s Group 1-winning I Am Invincible colt Move To Strike as well as stakes-placed Snitzel gelding Discharged.
Ellis was the biggest spender on the first day, securing four yearlings for a total of $665,000. Also on his list were fillies by Written Tycoon (Lot 1353), Cool Aza Beel (Lot 1294) and Hellbent (Lot 1232).
Another Zoustar from Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud draft, Lot 1297, was the highest-priced filly on the day, selling to The Two Old Men Syndicate for $350,000.
A daughter of Fit And Ready, the half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Catbird, she is a half-sister to a pair of Group 3 winners Outrageous and Very Tempting.
Australian Bloodstock purchased the third Zoustar, Lot 1347, a colt from the draft of Riverstone Lodge, for $200,000.
He is out of Ladybeetle, a sister to Group 1 winner Dreamforce and a daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Eskimo Queen.
The same buyer combined with Nick Ryan to purchase Lot 1398, a So You Think colt, for $180,000.
Prime Thoroughbreds spent $200,000 on a colt by I Am Invincible out of the famous Shantha’s Choice family. His dam, Loretta, is a daughter of Precious Lorraine and a half-sister to Meuse.
Meanwhile, Eric Koh paid $200,000 for a full sister to Group 1 winner and now Bowness Stud stallion D’Argento. The So You Think filly, Lot 1303, was another of the Baramul Stud draft, and carried the same grey colouring as her brother.
Bren O’Brien
