$410,000 Zoustar Colt Tops MM Weanling Sale Opener

 

The colt, the second foal of the group performed mare Miss Husson, was knocked down to Segenhoe Stud's Peter O'Brien after a frenzy of bids from a number of bidders.

Catalogued as Lot 879, the colt was consigned by Scott Irwin's Rothwell Park Thoroughbreds and was the clear top seller during the afternoon.

 

By Sunlight's sire Zoustar, the colt's dam Miss Husson won six races before being retired to stud and earned black type with a runner-up effort in the Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas.

"I saw him at Rothwell about two months ago and I loved him then and he's just improved from then on," a delighted Peter O'Brien said. 

"We had a meeting about him this morning speaking to Kevin Maloney and I said, 'he’s the one for me for the sale' and you've got to buy the one you want."

"He’s a beautiful horse by a stallion we love and we'll bring him back here next year and hopefully double it."

"He’s all there now - he's a very mature horse and very correct," O'Brien added. "He comes from a great farm. Scotty (Irwin) does a great job and we're delighted to get him back to the farm."

It was fitting a colt by Zoustar should top Day One of the National Weanling Sale. It was at the 2011 edition of the sale that Zoustar himself was purchased for $85,000. He later sold for $140,000 at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale before starring on the track and now proving himself one of the country's top young sires. 

Lime Country Thoroughbreds and James Bester Bloodstock teamed up to buy the second top seller on the day - the Written Tycoon-Matildare filly for $230,000.

Hailing from the family of Group One winners Starspangledbanner and Amicus, the filly was presented at the Gold Coast by Aquis Farm Operations.

There was a great result for Victoria's Phoenix Broodmare Farm when their Dundeel colt from Marquise da Rossa sold to James Carey for an even $200,000.

Across the day over $3.5 million was traded on 62 lots sold at an average price of $57,581 and clearance rate of 71 per cent.

“There is plenty of money around and I think looking at the results today there is an insatiable thirst for quality," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.

"When there is a lot of unknown in the world I guess picking the eyes out of them is key, but I think there are a lot of quality horses that are slipping through the cracks that are well worth people's consideration."

"I think vendors will come back tomorrow with a realistic frame of mind and it's a market where there will be plenty of opportunities to be had - there are plenty of nice horses."

"It was a small session today and we will be looking to get the passed in ones sold and that will be our job overnight and look to build some momentum going into tomorrow."

"I think the depth of the sale is really good, the feedback we have had on the catalogue has been really positive. I am thrilled that Scott and Rothwell have seen some good results today, they have been a big supporter of this sale forever and a day."

"They have stuck solid again this year and I was thrilled they got some good results today including the top price," Bowditch added.

To view the results from Day One and to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.

Day Two of the National Weanling Sale will commence at 10am (AEST) tomorrow (Friday), while inspections for Monday and Tuesday's National Yearling Sale will also get underway.

SALE STATISTICS
(2019 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 120 (265)
Lots Sold: 62 (168)
Lots Passed In: 25 (56)
Lots Withdrawn: 33 (41)
Sale Gross: $3,570,000 ($10,067,500)
Top Price: $410,000 ($300,000)
Average Price: $57,581 ($59,926)
Median Price: $36,000 ($30,000)
Sold %: 71 (75)
 

DAY ONE TOP SELLERS

$410,000 - Zoustar-Miss Husson colt (Lot 879)
Vendor: Rothwell Park T'breds (As Agent) / Buyer: Segenhoe Stud (NSW)

$230,000 - Written Tycoon-Matildare filly (Lot 868)
Aquis Farm Operations (As Agent) / Lime Country T'breds/James Bester B'stock (NSW)

$200,000 - Dundeel-Marquise da Rossa colt (Lot 865)
Phoenix Broodmare Farm (As Agent) / James Carey (NSW)

$160,000 - Hellbent-Queen of Kandy colt (Lot 908)
Sledmere Stud (As Agent) / DR Pinhook (NSW)

$150,000 - Lonhro-La Parisienne colt (Lot 841)
Sledmere Stud (As Agent) / Suman Hedge B'stock/Grant B'stock (Vic)