Resolute Racing Pounce on Zougotcha Relation for A$2.6 Million at Inglis

[Wandering Eyes]

By Dane McLeod/Renee Geelen/TTR AusNZ

The 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale saw fireworks and frenzied buying action continue from Day 1 into Day 2. Another 15 yearlings reached the coveted A$1 million mark, giving the sale a total of 25 million-dollar lots. Buyers' thirst for quality continued as the sale ended on a very strong note.

Lot 217–Zoustar (Aus) x The Actuary (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) (filly)–A$2,600,000

The momentum of Zoustar continued as Lot 217, a classy filly out of the talented juvenile The Actuary, attracted a flurry of bids before ultimately being knocked down for A$2.6 million to John Stewart of Resolute Racing–marking Widden Stud's third million-dollar offering for the sale by their outstanding stallion.

The Actuary was a precocious filly herself, winning twice as a juvenile, including the Listed The Phoenix Stakes. Her first foal, a full brother, was sold at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for A$760,000 to Highway Farm. Now named Algorithmic (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), he has shown early promise in his career, running fourth in the Listed Lonhro Plate and fifth in the G2 Sires' Produce Stakes on his most recent start at Flemington.

The filly also boasts a powerful pedigree on the page. She is a three-parts sister to the brilliant three-time Group 1 winner Zougotcha (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Listed winner Persuader (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}). Her third dam, Crystal Wit (Aus) (Distorted Humor), was also successful at Listed level and has produced nine individual winners. She is a half-sister to the G1 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}).

“It's been an exciting morning!” said Widden's Antony Thompson.

“We've had two lovely Zoustar's through in the first hour and, obviously, The Actuary has been a star from day one and the filly has been much-admired this week. She's hardly seen a box. We had 260 parades for her and the vets have been from all parts of the world.

“I guess she had that X factor and had international appeal as well, so we're thrilled to see John Stewart of Resolute Racing purchase.”

The Actuary has visited Zoustar every year since her retirement to stud. Following this filly, she has produced a full brother and was again served by him last spring.

 

Lot 217, Zoustar x The Actuary from the @widdenstud draft sells for $2.6 million to @resracingky!!!
Massive congratulations to those involved! #InglisEaster pic.twitter.com/MGmzT1brt0

— Inglis (@inglis_sales) April 7, 2025

 

At A Glance

• Fifteen lots sold for A$1 million or more on a strong day of trading, making 25 in total for the sale, compared to 18 in 2024 and 26 in 2023. This year's sale topper was sold on Day 1 for A$3 million, while the top lot of Day 2, the Zoustar (Aus) filly out of The Actuary (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), made $2.6 million, one of only two fillies in the top 10 lots on Day 2.
• Last year, the yearling filly out of champion racemare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) broke the highest price yearling record selling for A$10 million, with the previous record being A$5 million. The record number of seven figure lots occurred in 2008 when there was 28.
• The median price across both days was A$360,000, compared to A$375,000 on the first day of the sale. The sale average was well up on 2024 at A$451,913 (332 sold) compared to A$429,786 (356 sold) at close of business. Last year, the average without the Winx filly was A$396,774 from 355 lots sold–a staggering increase in the market climate.
• The clearance rate is currently 86 per cent. Last year, the clearance rate at the end of sale was 79 per cent and rose to 80 per cent over the next week. The gross topped A$150 million compared to A$151.8 million last year including the Winx filly.
• The highest spending buyer across both days of the sale was Coolmore's Tom Magnier who spent A$10.4 million on seven yearlings at an average of A$1.4 million. KPW was the leading buyer for most yearlings purchased with 10 horses costing A$4.7 million, while Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock was equal with Chris Waller and Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock with nine purchases each.
• Arrowfield Stud led the vendors list with A$22 million worth of yearlings across 39 sales at an average of A$565,600, ahead of Coolmore who sold 33 yearlings for A$17.8 million. Widden Stud were the leading vendor by average price at A$734,000. Tyreel Stud came in second, selling three yearlings at an average price of A$713,000.
• Snitzel (Aus) led the sires list by aggregate with 31 yearlings sold for A$22 million at an average of A$718,000, edging out Zoustar (Aus) whose 28 yearlings sold made A$18 million at an average of A$660,000.
• Across the two days of selling, the leading first season sire was Home Affairs (Aus) with 22 yearlings sold for an average of A$395,000, including the sale-topping A$3 million colt on the first day.

 

Lot 333–I Am Invincible (Aus) x Covent Garden (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) (colt)–A$1,800,000

Tom Magnier and Coolmore Stud continued their buying spree in style, winning out in a fierce bidding war for Lot 333–an I Am Invincible colt secured for A$1.8 million.

The colt is the first live foal out of Covent Garden, a half-sister to none other than the legendary Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), the extraordinary mare who claimed an astonishing 25 Group 1 victories. The colt is also closely related to Group 3 winner El Divino (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), while his second dam, Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar {Aus}), was a talented mare in her own right, winning seven races including two at Listed level.

A beautifully balanced son of 'Vinny', he was offered by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds. It's a sensational start to Covent Garden's broodmare career and Coolmore will no doubt be hoping this colt follows in the footsteps of their past I Am Invincible star colt in Home Affairs (Aus).

“He was a colt that was always a standout from day one,” said Brian Clarke of Segenhoe Stud. “From the day he was born he was a beautiful horse. He had the real I Am Invincible quality, beautiful head, great colour, physically very impressive.

“Because of that we always had big expectations coming here, hopefully thinking he will be a million-dollar horse, or one of our better or bigger lots, but to make A$1.8 million really exceeded expectations.”

Since producing this standout colt, Covent Garden has left a weanling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and was subsequently left empty last spring.

 

.@SegenhoeGroup's Lot 333 (I Am Invincible x Covent Garden) sells to @CoolmoreAus for $1.8 million! Congratulations to those involved! #InglisEaster pic.twitter.com/DGIFZNHIgv

— Inglis (@inglis_sales) April 7, 2025

 

Lot 297–Zoustar (Aus) x Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto) (colt)–A$1,700,000

It was an exciting and emotional moment for Sam and Catriona Williams of Little Avondale Stud, as they celebrated their first ever million-dollar yearling sale. Lot 297, a striking Zoustar colt out of Belluci Babe, realised A$1.7 million when knocked down to Sam Wright and Douglas Whyte.

The colt is the first foal out of Belluci Babe, a winner of the G3 Wenona Girl Handicap. She is a three-parts sister to last Saturday's G3 Carbine Club Stakes winner and the R. Listed “The Kiwi” runner-up Evaporate (Aus) (Per Incanto), as well as fellow Per Incanto-sired Listed winners Magnum (NZ) and Pure Incanto (NZ).

“It's a huge result, massive result for the stud,” said Little Avondale's Sam Williams. “We're 85 years old and the oldest in New Zealand. This colt goes back to the direct descendant of my grandmother's first ever yearling she sold 85 years ago. So this is very satisfying.

“Belluci Babe, we raced over here with a group of guys and syndicated her on a lease deal. She went on to be a pretty damn good racehorse on the track, winning six including the Wenona Stakes. We decided to keep her here to go to Zoustar rather than bring her home that first year.”

When questioned on how he come about selecting Zoustar for his talented mare's first mating, Williams said, “Always send them to a proven sire off the track. It's always been a stud policy. If you think you've got one of the best ones you've got, go to one of the best ones you can afford. Obviously, Zoustar was that boy and the result has just been magnificent for the stud.

“I've never had a horse have over 200 parades at a sale, and I think, as of the end of today, it was 226.”

Since producing this colt, Belluci Babe was served by Russian Revolution (Aus) and exported to New Zealand. She then left a Russian Revolution weanling colt and was subsequently served by Proisir (Aus) last spring.

 

This beautiful Zoustar x Belluci Babe (Lot 297) colt from the @littleavondale draft, sells for $1.7 million to Douglas White! Congratulations #InglisEaster pic.twitter.com/mbRcQlocAI

— Inglis (@inglis_sales) April 7, 2025

The post Resolute Racing Pounce on Zougotcha Relation for A$2.6 Million at Inglis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article