Ellis' Time To Strike

Te Akau's David Ellis CNZM was the leading buyer after Day 1 of the Magic Millions' National Yearling Sale - purchasing four stunning yearlings, including the sale topping Zoustar colt, the half brother to Te Akau Group 1 winner Move to Strike ... shares available now - be sure to check this colt, our striking Written Tycoon filly and a terrific, value for money Cool Aza Beel lass!

Magic Millions' reports:

Te Akau Racing’s ground breaking Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale continued today when the tangerine team purchased the half brother to one of their stars for $400,000 to top Day One of the National Yearling Sale.

A week after the stable’s recently retired champion mare Imperatriz sold for a Southern Hemisphere record of $6.6 million, Te Akau’s David Ellis was back chasing his next champion from the Gold Coast sale ring.

Ellis went to $400,000 this afternoon to secure the Zoustar half brother to this season’s New Zealand juvenile star Move to Strike from the draft of Baramul Stud.

The colt is the tenth foal of the grand producing Shamardal mare No Evidence Needed – herself a multiple Group winner – and dam of six winners including two stakes performers.

“He’s a cracking colt,” a delighted Ellis said. “He’s got a lot of quality.”

“He’s a half brother to an I Am Invincible colt that we’ve just won a Group One with and expect to reach the top in New Zealand and Australia next season.”

“A stunning colt and it’s great to buy one off Gerry Harvey. We’ve had so much success buying off mares that he’s got and I’m sure this will be another really good colt.” 

Over the years Ellis has purchased Group One winners from the Gold Coast National Yearling Sale including Princess Coup, Tell a Tale, Campionessa and Costa Viva. There’s no surprise why he keeps coming back! 

“It’s been a very lucky sale to me. I’m surprised that every trainer in New Zealand and Australia isn’t here because there’s a lot of good value here and there will be a lot of good horses come out of this sale, for sure!” 

“The quality horses are selling very well. We’ve bought three fillies and a colt and we are very happy to be taking these home,” Ellis added. “These sorts of horses going forward for our New Zealand stable and Cranbourne stable is very exciting stuff.”

Another Baramul Stud consigned youngster by Zoustar was the second top seller of the day – this time a filly – with the Fit and Ready yearling selling to The Two Old Men Syndicate for $350,000.

The filly is a half sister to three stakes horses including Group Three Festival Stakes winner Outrageous and WA Oaks winner Very Tempting. Dam Fit and Ready is a daughter of Fitting and therefore a half sister to Catbird and Danbird. 

Another colt by Zoustar (ex Ladybeetle) consigned by Riverstone Lodge and the sole colt in the sale by I Am Invincible (ex Loretta) both sold for $200,000 to Australian Bloodstock and Prime Thoroughbreds respectively. 

Across the day over $5.2 million was traded on 110 lots sold at an average price of $47,454 and clearance rate of 67 per cent. All the statistics are up on last year’s National Yearling Sale opener.

“It’s been a good start to the National Yearling Sale,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch. “It can be described as a selective market, a lot like we’ve seen across other yearling sales this year.”

“When a well conformed horse, that vetted out, walked into the ring there was good competition, albeit a selective market.”

“There’s been great international participation from the Philippines, China, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong – from the parts of the world that our team, led by David Chester, has worked hard in attracting.”

“It was fantastic to see Te Akau buy the topper today from a sale that they’ve had such great success from over the years.”