A filly by leading sire Zoustar has topped the 2025 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale after selling for $350,000 at Morphettville today.
The second foal of a twice winning Swiss Ace mare, the bay filly was offered by Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud and was snapped up by Blueblood Thoroughbreds in partnership with leading trainer Ciaron Maher.
The October 2023 foaled youngster, who was catalogued as Lot 255, is from Beauty Betty, a short course performer who is a daughter of the stakes placed Ugly Betty and is therefore a sister to New Zealand stakes winner and Group One placegetter Huka Eagle.
"Usually we come down here to Adelaide to look for some value and get some cheapies," Blueblood Thoroughbreds' Racing Manager David Mourad said. "But on this occasion it was quite the opposite."
"She was just a clear standout for us and there wouldn't be many who disagree with that."
"We had to bid strong on her. We didn't want to leave the sale without her and we're very excited to be able to purchase her."
"Zoustar is doing a terrific job. We've had success with Zoustar in the past and when you see a filly like her with a big hindquarter, very strong with a deep girth and lovely action - she was just a clear standout."
"I believe she has all the attributes to make a nice two-year-old that should train on," Mourad added.
Two other yearlings today sold for $200,000.
Yulong's Written Tycoon filly from Blue Morpho was knocked down to Ridgeport Holdings, Clarken Bloodstock and Suman Hedge Bloodstock, while John Foote went to $200,000 for the Brutal-Esteemed Elegance colt from Riverina Downs.
Across the two day sale over $14.3 million was traded on 292 lots sold at an average price of $49,087 and clearance rate of over 76 per cent.
Local trainer Aaron Bain teamed up with Summit Bloodstock to secure 12 lots at the sale and was leading buyer on spend at $627,000 ahead of John Foote with five purchased at $590,000.
Baramul Stud was the leading vendor by gross ($1,842,500 for 20 sold), while Yulong was on top by average ($105,778 for 9 sold) marginally ahead of local Whim Park who sold their two lots at an average of $102,500.
"I think today was a very similar sale to yesterday," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "The clearance rate has improved a little bit and the average has held up."
"All in all it's been a pleasing couple of days. It showed this week that quality horses still make plenty of money."
"We sold more horses for six figures compared to last year."
"We will look to the local breeders to support this sale with their better horses going forward. We think we've got a really good market here for those sorts of horses."
"When a nice horse stepped into the ring, particularly a colt that ticked all the boxes, there were a number of people there and they sold very well."
"The local market has really pleased us. They bought more horses than last year and spent more and that's important to the ecosystem for South Australia. That is important and part of the reason we have the sale here - to support the local economy and to support the local racing."
"The international buyers (were strong). Hong Kong and New Zealand have been fantastic and China and Thailand played their part. Some of the other interstate markets like Victoria was great. Western Australia was fantastic."
"We had a great cross section of buyers and I'm pleased overall with the results and the clearance rate will continue to improve overnight," Bowditch added.
To view the results of the Adelaide Yearling Sale or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
The Australian thoroughbred sales focus now switches immediately north for the rescheduled Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale next Monday and Tuesday (March 24 and 25).
"This is a sale which will present incredible opportunities," Bowditch pointed out. "Queensland bred horses have been starring on tracks around Australia and abroad and the incentives at the Gold Coast March Yearling Sale are second to none."
"I would encourage prospective buyers to get in touch with a member of our team whether they can make it to the Gold Coast or not."
To view the catalogue for the Gold Coast March Yearling Sale click here.
SALE STATISTICS
(2024 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 455 (452)
Lots Sold: 292 (306)
Lots Passed In: 92 (81)
Lots Withdrawn: 71 (65)
Sale Gross: $14,333,500 ($15,379,500)
Average Price: $49,087 ($50,259)
Top Price: $350,000 ($400,000)
Median Price: $32,500 ($40,000)
Sold %: 76 (79)
DAY TWO TOP SELLERS
$350,000 - Zoustar-Beauty Betty filly (Lot 255)
Vendor: Baramul Stud / Buyer: Blueblood T'breds/Ciaron Maher Racing (NSW)
$200,000 - Written Tycoon-Blue Morpho filly (Lot 273)
Yulong (As Agent) / Ridgeport Holdings/Clarken B'stock/Suman Hedge B'stock (SA)
$200,000 - Brutal-Esteemed Elegance colt (Lot 342)
Riverina Downs (As Agent) / John Foote B'stock (HK)
$180,000 - Castelvecchio-Kebede colt (Lot 422)
Glen Lee T'breds (As Agent) / Tartan Meadow B'stock (HK)
$170,000 - Bivouac-Gaya colt (Lot 377)
Baramul Stud / Williams Racing/Suman Hedge B'stock (WA)
OVERALL SALE TOP SELLERS
$350,000 - Zoustar-Beauty Betty filly (Lot 255)
Vendor: Baramul Stud / Buyer: Blueblood T'breds/Ciaron Maher Racing (NSW)
$260,000 – Written Tycoon-Saaryaa filly (Lot 109)
Yulong (As Agent) / Wei Jiaoqi (China)
$240,000 – So You Think-Miss Otto colt (Lot 25)
Mill Park Stud (As Agent) / Clarken B’stk/Suman Hedge B’stk/ Rob Chapman (SA)
$200,000 - Written Tycoon-Blue Morpho filly (Lot 273)
Yulong (As Agent) / Ridgeport Holdings/Clarken B'stock/Suman Hedge B'stock (SA)
$200,000 - Brutal-Esteemed Elegance colt (Lot 342)
Riverina Downs (As Agent) / John Foote B'stock (HK)
$180,000 - Castelvecchio-Kebede colt (Lot 422)
Glen Lee T'breds (As Agent) / Tartan Meadow B'stock (HK)
$180,000 – Ole Kirk-Statuesquely colt (Lot 149)
Baramul Stud / Ohukia Lodge (NZ)
$180,000 – Wootton Bassett-Victoria Road filly (Lot 200)
Baramul Stud / John Singleton (NSW)
$170,000 – Bivouac-Pimm’s Party colt (Lot 64)
Mill Park Stud (As Agent) / Kavanagh Racing (Vic)
$170,000 - Bivouac-Gaya colt (Lot 377)
Baramul Stud / Williams Racing/Suman Hedge B'stock (WA)
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)
$627,000 - Aaron Bain Racing/Summit B'stock - 12 lots
$590,000 - John Foote B'stock - 5 lots
$395,000 - Williams Racing/Suman Hedge B'stock - 6 lots
$368,000 - Macdonald Gluyas Racing - 5 lots
$350,000 - Blueblood T'breds/Ciaron Maher Racing - 1 lot
LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by total gross)
$1,842,500 - Baramul Stud - 20 sold
$1,306,000 - Mill Park Stud - 16 sold
$952,000 - Yulong - 9 sold
$637,500 - Glen Lee T'breds - 9 sold
$590,000 - Willaroon T'breds - 9 sold
LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by average - 2 or more sold)
$105,778 - Yulong - 9 sold
$102,500 - Whim Park - 2 sold
$100,333 - Riverine Downs - 3 sold
$92,125 - Baramul Stud - 20 sold
$81,625 - Mill Park Stud - 16 sold
