Widden Stud’s young gun sire Zousain broke the ice with his first winner on Wednesday when the Te Akau colours were carried to victory aboard first starter The Victress at Te Aroha, their fourth winner from eight yearlings purchased at Magic Millions in 2023.
Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, The Victress was partnered by Opie Bosson and sent out a short priced favourite for the 1000m maiden. She held off all challengers in the run to the line to win by half a length.
The Victress was snapped up by David Ellis from the Coolmore draft at Magic Millions for $250,000 and was a successful pinhook having been sold previously by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $130,000 to Manson Place Bloodstock.
David Ellis must be well pleased with his foray into the Magic Millions market last year where he purchased eight yearlings for $2,490,000. To date five of them have raced and they are unbeaten Group II winner Captured by Love (f Written Tycoon), Group II placed winner Move to Strike (c Am Invincible), Group II placed winner Dream of the Moon (f All Too Hard), Unbridled Joy (c Snitzel), one start for a second and now The Victress, who is the fourth winner of the group…. That’s good buying from just eight purchases!
The Victress is the third juvenile winner from the Coolmore Gold Coast draft that has also produced unbeaten stakes-winner and Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite Storm Boy as well as stakes-placed Arabian Summer, who will also run in the rich 2YO sprint on Saturday week.
Bred by Bhima Thoroughbreds, The Victress is the fourth winner and is the final foal from stakes-winning Exceed and Excel mare Liesele, who died in 2021.
The Victress is the first winner from just three starters for Zousain, a Group II winning and multiple Group I placed son of Zoustar.
Zousain has 29 entries for Magic Millions and 23 for Inglis Classic.
