A share in Champion sire Zoustar has today become the most expensive stallion share ever sold at public auction in Australia, realising a sale-high $1.3m in the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.
Interest in the Qatar Bloodstock offering was global and led to some extraordinary participation, with 15 bids placed above $1m alone.
Champion sire Zoustar stands at a fee of $275,000 at Widden Stud this spring.
The eventual winning bidder was Bangaloe Stud.
Qatar’s David Redvers described the result as “fabulous’’.
“I was fascinated by the whole process. It’s a very new thing for us, selling something like this online but the Inglis Digital platform is an excellent and dynamic way in which to trade,’’ Redvers said.
“I’ve been watching it from afar for quite a while now and it’s clearly a proven platform, I mean this sale alone had more than 400 lots in it so it’s a proven and well used platform and if we were going to put something as significant as some equity in Zoustar online, Inglis Digital was the obvious platform to use.
“We were expertly guided through the whole process by [Inglis Bloodstock CEO] Sebastian [Hutch]. You are always slightly nervous putting something so valuable to public auction in case it falls below expectation but in this instance, the process and the result matched and exceeded expectations and I was delighted to do that bit of business with Inglis.
“What this result does is it demonstrates quite clearly the esteem in which Zoustar is held and it’s great that the market’s view of the stallion matches our thoughts on how good he is and how valuable he is.’’
Bangaloe Stud’s Julia Ritchie was delighted to win the fierce bidding duel.
“I was always prepared to go close to that price and in the end he’s worth it, every penny of it,’’ Ritchie said.
“That said, that was my absolute upper limit, I didn’t really have another bid in me but I think it’s worthwhile to be able to become involved in a superstar stallion like Zoustar.
“I’ve been supporting Zoustar previously as a breeder and to now be able to have a share in a young stallion who is kicking it out of the park, as a breeder that’s what you like to do, to support these next generation of great stallions.’’
Indeed Ritchie experienced the market allure of Zoustar first hand as recently as the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, selling a colt out of Phantom Queen to the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for $650,000 through the draft of Widden Stud.
The Zoustar share was one of six lots to realise $100,000 or more in the June (Early) Sale, joined by Zamborghini ($135,000), Rockaroo IF to Too Darn Hot ($115,000), Devoted ($105,000), Single Benefactor ($105,000) and Feelings IF to Captivant ($100,000).
The sale grossed $4,665,420.
Entries are now open for the Inglis Digital June (Late) Sale, which will be held from June 21-26.
Entries will remain open until midnight next Wednesday, June 19.
To enter CLICK HERE.
Prior to the next online sale is the Inglis Great Southern Sale, for which 436 weanlings and 72 mares have been catalogued.
The sale runs from 10am daily tomorrow and Friday at Oaklands in Melbourne.
To view the catalogue CLICK HERE.
