TOM Magnier went to A$5.25 million to secure the three-time Group 1-winning Zoustar mare Zougotcha to top the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale on the Gold Coast. “We’re very lucky to get her,” said Magnier.
“When you have the Wootton Bassetts and the Home Affairs and these sort of horses at home, it gives the confidence to keep buying these mares. She’ll go to Wootton Bassett and I think everyone knows how well he is going in Europe and here.”
Magnier was back in the fray shortly after, buying another Zoustar, the Group 1 winner Climbing Star for $2.1 million. “In fairness, Zoustar is going to be an unbelievable broodmare sire,” added Magnier.
“We’ve sent a lot of mares to Zoustar and we will continue to do so and I’d like to think Antony (Thompson of Widden) is going to give me a discounted rate now!”
New Lady for Harron
Over the two-day sale that concluded on Wednesday, 24 fillies and mares made a million or greater. Headlining those major sales were seven million-plus purchases by Yulong Investments, three to Tom Magnier, three to Katsumi Yoshida of Japan and two to Widden Stud.
Yulong had the second and fifth highest lots purchasing the three-time Group 1-winning Savabeel mare Atishu for $2.7 million and the Group 2-placed Frankel mare Call Di, in-foal to Extreme Choice, for $2.1 million.
The third top lot, and fifth to make over $2 million, was the Group 1 winner Lady Laguna by Overshare, bought by James Harron Bloodstock for $2.5 million. “Just a stunning individual who presented in just incredible health,” said Harron.
“Very excited to get her. I think that is what we’ve come to learn that these mares are worth. We’ll get her back home and work out a mating and go from there.”
Overall 359 of the 468 broodmares offered were sold for a gross of $88,349,500 with a clearance rate of 80%. The sale average was $246,099 with a median price of $90,000. Yulong Investments were the leading buyers outlying $12.79 million for 10 lots whilst Newgate were the leading vendor selling 57 broodmares for $25.052 million.
Doomben Cup (Group 1)
THE Tony Gollan-trained Antino dominated the Group 1 Doomben Cup on Saturday, winning by four lengths, as his trainer looks ahead to the Cox Plate now. Sent out a $3 favourite, under Blake Shinn, the Redwood gelding just had to negotiate the bend without incident before steering home the win.
With the field stretched out by the enigmatic Pride Of Jenni, Antino began to circle the field 800 metres from home before sweeping past the 2023/2024 Horse of the Year.
On the line Antino breezed home, lowering the track record by 0.08 seconds to post 2:00.88 for Doomben’s 2,000 metres.
Second was the Irish-bred Zoffany gelding Fawkner Park ahead of the Ocean Park gelding Kovalica. Pride Of Jenni faded to finish an 11-length 10th.
“He’s some horse,” said Shinn. “He told me when he wanted to get rolling about the half-mile when I just pulled him off Osipenko’s back and it was time to go, and it was a great feeling. He went from about seven (lengths) off them to have the race at his mercy about the 400 metre and I knew he’d keep that gallop up.
“He’s going to tackle Via Sistina and the like, but I think he’s at an age now, where he’s had some hardened racing against Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni, and Tony’s just nurtured this horse, and he’s at the peak of his powers. It’s just great to be associated with him, and I feel very honoured.”
Offered by Cheltenham Stables at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2020 Ready to Run Sale, Antino was purchased for just NZ$27,000 by the Hong Kong-based Jeetu Ramchandani of New Balance Racing. With 13 wins and six placings from his 26 starts, the six-year-old has now won over Aus$3.1 million.
“He is the best horse I have trained,” said Tony Gollan. “I said that a couple of seasons ago before he won a Group 1 and I was looking like a bit of a fool there and then he finally won the (Group 1) Toorak in dominant fashion.
“To run a track record today, a lot of good horses have won Doomben Cups, he puts himself in rare air now and I think he can really go on with it in the spring in Melbourne.
“He is a genuine weight-for-age horse, genuine at 2,000 metres and there is a lot to look forward to. Everything is now set toward the Cox Plate with him.”
PULCHRITUDINOUS, the longest word in the English language that describes beautiful, is also the name of the 2024 New Zealand Oaks winner who took Saturday’s Group 3 Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Mile at Doomben.
Sold to Yulong from Chad Ormsby’s stable after her New Zealand Oaks win, this was her fourth start for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. “She is a lovely mare,” said Bott. “We’re very fortunate to have her in the yard.
“Obviously, she was very talented in New Zealand through her three-year-old career, but it has taken a bit longer to get her into form and used to the conditions over here. We’re thankful that Yulong are more than happy to be patient with her and she has come back in good shape. A nice first-up run there and it opens a few options for her going forward.”
Ridden by Tim Clark, the Wrote filly won by half a length at $31. “I want to see her getting up in trip and she’ll keep improving,” added Bott.
“I think today’s performance was going to determine which way she’d go. Whether this lifts our sights a bit more, we’ll try and think about the residual value for Yulong and see if we can add to that going forward. Importantly, she is back in good shape today.”
War Machine on march
On the same card, the Harry Angel gelding War Machine moved himself to the head of betting for the Group 1 Aus$3 million Stradbroke Handicap on June 14th with a smart win in the Group 3 Brisbane Racing Club Sprint over 1,350 metres.
Trained by Ben, Will and J.D. Hayes with Blake Shinn up, War Machine posted an uncomplicated three-length win over the All Too Hard gelding Far Too Easy and the Proisir gelding Pier.
“It looked like we’d get a beautiful run from the barrier, and he’s let down well, which he did. He had his ears pricked on the line and we’re really looking forward to the Stradbroke,” said J.D. Hayes of the former Mike Moroney-trained horse.
“We’ve only had him a short time. He came in incredible condition from Ballymore, and we’ve been very lucky to inherit him, and he’s gone from stride-to-stride, and it was a beautiful ride.”
THE bid to sell Rosehill racecourse to make way for 25,000 homes has failed following a 56.1% no vote by Australian Turf Club members. ATC chairman Peter McGauran said: “The board brought forward this proposal in accordance with its fiduciary obligations, with the future of Sydney racing, our venues and members at the centre of the plan. While it will not proceed, the robust debate and considered views expressed throughout the process has put us in good stead for our next phase of strategic planning and development.”