Close relation to Zougotcha fetches $2.6m

Image: Inglis

Close relations to Group 1 winners star for Widden on Day 2 at Easter.

Widden Stud celebrated after a dream start to the second day of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale with the famed nursery reaping a big payday via two products of their star stallion Zoustar who are siblings to Group 1 winners.

The brother to Schwarz sold for $1.4 million just over half-an-hour into Monday’s session, not long before a three-quarter-sister to Zougotcha became the highest-priced filly of the sale when sold for a whopping $2.6 million.

The filly is by Zougotcha’s sire out of The Actuary, a half-sister to the three-time Group 1 winner, and Widden Principal Antony Thompson said the inspections period confirmed that she would be sought-after.

“She has been a star from Day 1, she’s been a much-admired filly, and this week she’s hardly seen her box,” Thompson said.

“She’s had 260 parades, the vets have been all over her from all parts of the world and, I guess, had that X-factor and had that international appeal as well.”

It was Resolute Racing, the burgeoning operation of American John Stewart, who was under-bidder on the $10m filly out of Winx who topped last year’s sale, that ended with the winning bid.

“Obviously he (Stewart) made a big play here last year, he’s been a major investor globally in his model to try and pick the finest bloodstock in the world, so to buy this filly off us is a real thrill and something we’re proud of,” Thompson said.

James Harron and TFI teamed up to buy the $1.4m lot, who enjoyed a significant pedigree update just a couple of weeks out from the sale when Schwarz, who is out of the Not A Single Doubt mare Summer Sham, won the Group 1 William Reid Stakes.

“The Summer Sham colt was a ripper, a stunning Zoustar colt (who’s a) full brother to a Group 1 winner,” Thompson said.

“For him to make $1.4 million just really vindicates everything Zoustar’s doing and what we’re doing.”

Widden was not the only stud to enjoy a stellar result with Zoustar progeny with New Zealand’s Little Avondale Stud selling one of his colts, who is out a three-quarter-sister to Evaporate, to Sam Wright and Douglas Whyte for $1.7m.