Ardrossan - New Winner

Sad news from Widden Stud in Victoria with the passing of much-loved veteran 26 year-old sire Bel Esprit, who has succumbed to the effects of old age after a long and fruitful stud career following his brilliant exploits on the racetrack.

The Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale kicked off on Thursday and it didn’t take long for the sale ring to light up with Lot 25, the half-sister by Zoustar to G1 Blue Diamond contender Chayan selling for $525,000.

Kozzi Asano signed off his brief New Zealand homecoming with a winning treble at Pukekohe on Saturday, headed by black-type success aboard Ardalio in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m).

Super Seth, sire of four Group 1 winners from his first two crops, has been purchased by Coolmore from Waikato Stud to stand at its Hunter Valley base.

A beautiful Zoustar filly, who has a half sister racing in Saturday's Group One Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, topped Day One of the Perth Yearling Sale in the Swan Valley on Thursday.

There were five heats won by juveniles at Randwick on Thursday morning and they included unraced youngsters by first season sires Pinatubo (IRE) and Profiteer, plus a Snitzel filly that made $1.2million at Inglis Easter last year.

Six years after landing a Group Three prize on Karaka Millions night with Ardrossan, trainer Stephen Marsh and jockey Michael McNab kept it in the family with his exciting daughter Ardalio winning Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie.

For the first time in four years, the NZB Filly of the Year Series is still well and truly alive heading into its grand finale – the $1m Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

Mitch Pearce and his team at Crossley Thoroughbreds are preparing for their third Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and are excited to present another top class draft that includes one of only two colts in this year’s sale by champion sire Snitzel.

Group One assignments are looming for the country’s leading juveniles and Chad Ormsby is hoping State Of Valour can be among that contingent.