$725,000 Zoustar Colt Sells at Karaka Book 1

Widden Stud’s champion sire only had two yearlings to be offered at Karaka Book 1 and both were sold on Sunday with the colt from Evalina fetching $725,000 to the bid of Jamie Richards/ Andrew Williams Bloodstock.

Consigned by Elsdon Park, the colt is the first foal of Listed Levin Stakes winner Evalina, who also finished third in the Group I Railway Stakes and hails from a family that includes Group I VATC Oakleigh Plate (1100m) winner Singing The Blues and Group I ATC George Ryder Stakes (1500m) winner Referral.

Richards was attracted by the physical presence of the colt who is likely to stay in New Zealand for his early education and racing.

“It’s great to be back home in New Zealand and this colt looks like a real runner, by a champion sire and from a stakes winning mare who is also by a champion sire (I Am Invincible),” he said.

“Just a real running type of horse who we have bought for some good Hong Kong clients.

“We’re not 100 percent sure what we will do with him but it is likely he will stay here and hopefully be aimed towards the Karaka Million (2YO, 1200m) although at some stage he will make his way up to Hong Kong.

“He was the one we were keen to be really strong on although we had to see off the boss (David Ellis)and thankfully, we were able to get it done.”

The other Zoustar was a filly from Lady Cartier that made $400,000 for Kaha Nui Farm when bought by David Ellis. She was a successful pinhook for her vendor having been sourced in Australia at the Inglis Select Weanling Sale for $220,000 from the Tyreel Stud draft.