Zoustar gives mare owners great return

Racehorse owners showed their faith in Zoustar at last week's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where 32 members of his first crop found buyers.

They changed hands for a total of Aus$8,485,000 at an average price of $265,156, a superb return on the stallion's 2014 fee of $44,000.

The peak purchase of a Zoustar yearling was one of $550,000 for a filly consigned by Widden Stud, one of three owners of the young stallion, who is also shared by Woodside Park Stud and Qatar Bloodstock. Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and his racing and bloodstock advisor David Redvers were present at the sale, and invested in seven Zoustar yearlings, including the highlight filly who was bought in partnership with Sydney trainer Chris Waller.

He trained Zoustar and his dam, Zouzou (Redoute's Choice), who were both yearling graduates of the Magic Millions sale.

Sheikh Fahad also invested in four colts by the sire ranging in price from $200,000 to $510,000, and in two other fillies some of these purchases were made in partnership with bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster who represents Waller at sales around the world quite clearly the trainer has plenty of faith in the stallion.

European racing fans came within a whisker of seeing dual Group One winner Zoustar in action on the racecourse, for he was set to run at Royal Ascot in 2014, and was working brilliantly after being shipped to Britain, but very sadly he sustained a small strain to a suspensory ligament, and it was decided to retire him and return him to Australia.

He stood his first season at Widden Stud in New South Wales, and in his second season moved to Victoria-based Woodside Park Stud, and he has alternated between the two in following years.

A son of Northern Meteor, who was proving a huge talent at stud before dying far too young, Zoustar has a stallion's pedigree and he sires lovely-looking stock it will be fascinating to see how they run.

Photograph of Zoustar colt out of Pasar Silbano, selling at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and bought by David Redvers and Guy Mulcaster for $400,000