Dam of Sunshine in Paris Sells for $1.4million

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday May 24

The Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale produced an early highlight on Wednesday when Zenaida, the dam of yesterday’s $3.9million filly Sunshine in Paris, was offered by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds and purchased by Yulong for $1.4million.

Zenaida sold for $1.4million on Wednesday morning - image MM

It was the second trip around the Gold Coast sale ring for Zenaida, who was purchased for $240,000 in 2021 at this sale by Paul Willetts Bloodstock for the Liston family of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds.

Zenaida was already the dam of Group III winner Macroura with Sunshine in Paris an unnamed yearling by Invader, but what a difference she’s made to the pedigree!

Sunshine in Paris is a game changer for her family - image Steve Hart

Winner of the Group I ATC Surround Stakes at just her fifth start, the Annabel Neasham trained Sunshine in Paris was bought yesterday by James Harron Bloodstock and you can read about her here.

Toby Liston was thrilled with the sale of Zenaida, who was offered in foal to Maurice (Jpn).

“It’s amazing, she’s a lovely animal, obviously it’s unfortunate you have to sell these horses, but she’s gone to a wonderful home,” he said.

Advertisement

“They (Yulong) are the best supporters of Victoria, so it’s great for us and great she’s staying in Victoria. I can’t wait to see her foal.

“It’s very exciting and it’s a big deal for our family and our farm. We haven’t sold a horse for $1 million before, so it’s great.

“We have to trade, we have to sell these horses.

“We’ve done it before for other people, it’s easy to sell somebody else’s horse, but it’s hard to sell your own.

“You’re never as worried, but when it’s your own you’re never as confident. Coming into today, I was a bit nervous last night, but that’s a wonderful result.”

A rising 12 year old by champion sire Zabeel, Zenaida was the first big purchase on Wednesday for Yulong following on from yesterday when they spent over $19million on 35 mares.

“She’s a mare that, going forward, the pedigree is going to improve and improve,” said Sam Fairgray.

“She’s got the two stakes-winning daughters already and it’s likely we’ll keep the fillies out of her and keep building the family.”

Yulong already have a plan in place for a partner this season and look forward the arrival of her foal by Maurice (Jpn).

“She’ll go to Alabama Express, obviously with a similar sort of cross to Sunshine In Paris and Macroura,” Fairgray said.

“Mr Zhang has had a passion for Zabeel mares for a long time so to get one like her is fantastic.

“Maurice is a good stallion, he’s done well, he missed a year but he’s a very good stallion and we’re not really fussed whether we get a colt or a filly, because Maurice colts are very good and if we get a filly she’s staying at the farm.”

Advertisment
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.