Cover image courtesy of First Light Racing
Lot 29 - Zousain x Xaar's Jewel (Xaar {GB}), filly
Buyer: Annabel Neasham Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA)
Vendor: Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds
Trainer Annabel Neasham had a good weekend with the smart 2-year-old Castanya (Capitalist) securing the Listed Lonhro Plate in a brilliant fast-finishing performance. Scouting the sales with Sydney-based bloodstock agent Will Johnson, the pair were active at Magic Millions picking up four yearlings, then another filly at New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka with Darby Racing.
“It's a good time to be sourcing a bit of value,” said Johnson, who picked up three with Neasham on Day 1 of Inglis Classic, including a Zousain filly from Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds (Lot 29) for $160,000.
“I am very happy to have secured three horses for good value today off the back of strong Magic Millions sales. This filly (Lot 29) and the North Pacific colt (Lot 167) are two that looked great value in a market that's starting to be truly tested.”
Lot 29 - Zousain x Xaar's Jewel (filly) was purchased by Annabel Neasham Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) for $160,000 from Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly from Xaar’s Jewel (Xaar {GB}) possesses a deep pedigree, being a half-relation to two Group 2 winners in Ninth Legion (Fastnet Rock) and Tsaritsa (Dane Shadow).
“This filly reminds me a lot of Tsaritsa,” said Johnson. “She’s a mare I had a crack at trying to buy a couple of years ago.
“She is particularly well bred looking at line breeding theories and one of only very few yearlings in this sale to only have two dams on the page. So that, coupled with great physical attributes, ensure she has good residual value but also the ingredients to hopefully run well on the track.
“This filly, for a November foal, looks like she's going to develop into a lovely filly moving forward.”
Will Johnson, Annabel Neasham, Rob Archibald & Tabitha Ridley-Thomas | Image courtesy of Inglis
Zousain has had six starters so far from his first crop with one winner and a second, which was achieved by Froebel Star in the Magic Millions 2YO Debut on the Gold Coast. The young Widden Stud stallion was bred by top Hunter Valley breeder Mick Talty, who has the familiar Edenglassie ‘bullseye’ brand stamping his stock – which also appears on the shoulder of this filly, with Talty stating: “She’s very much in the mould of Zousain.”
“The sire’s oldest are obviously only 2-year-olds,” said Johnson. “But trainers are speaking very highly of them, consistently saying they have great minds and athletic frames.”
Neasham added: “I’ve got a couple by Zousain in the stable that I really like. They’re really athletic.”
