Group I winning Zoustar mare Climbing Star started life at Widden Stud as did $5.25million mare Zougotcha and now they will find themselves back together in the paddock at Coolmore after Tom Magnier purchased both of them at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday.
Magnier moved earlier in the day on triple Group I winner Zougotcha, who was consigned by her trainer Chris Waller and then was successful when bidding $2.1 million for Climbing Star.
“She’ll go to Wootton Bassett (as is Zougotcha). In fairness, Zoustar is going to be an unbelievable broodmare sire, we’ve sent a lot of mares to Zoustar and we will continue to do so and I’d like to think Antony (Thompson)is going to give me a discounted rate now,” quipped Tom Magnier.
“These are very special mares, very well-bred, very good-looking and we’ve got a great bunch of people behind us.”
Climbing Star was offered in the same Widden draft at Inglis Easter as Zougotcha and sold for $600,000 to Phillip Stokes Racing Pty Ltd / Rick Connolly Bloodstock.
Trained by Phillip Stokes, Climbing Star won the Group I SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes and won over $1million in prizemoney.
“It’s a really healthy market, there’s a lot of competition and these are two beautiful Zoustar mares bought by the best in Coolmore and Tom (Magnier),” said Antony Thompson.
“They’ve bought Mizzy and they’ve bought Sunlight and they’ve added to that today in Zougotcha and Climbing Star.
“That makes us pretty proud of Zoustar and the sort of horses we’re breeding. Ït’s lovely when they go to the best trainers and the best players in the business.”
The dams of both Zougotcha (Fast Talker) and Climbing Star (Bryony) are still at Widden and both daughters of Fastnet Rock have more to come.
Widden sold a yearling full sister to Climbing Star at Inglis Easter this year for $500,000 and Bryony is back in foal to Zoustar after missing in 2023.
Fast Talker had a colt by Zoustar last spring and was then covered by Zousain, who also had a big result at this sale with the Widden consigned Group winning filly Drifting selling for $800,000 to Bahen Bloodstock.
