Outstanding mare Atishu has been confirmed as one of the headline acts for May's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast.
A star in New Zealand and a multiple Group One winner in Australia, Atishu is one of Australasia's star racehorses and at her most recent racetrack outing she won the Group Two Blamey Stakes at Flemington.
Set to have her next two starts in significant Group One races, Atishu has already won a pair of Group Ones - a Queen of the Turf Stakes in Sydney and a Champions Stakes in Melbourne.
"She's taken us on a fantastic ride," Go Racing's Albert Bosma said. "She's a very special horse."
"Right from Day One she showed she was going to have an exciting future. She was able to run amazing sectionals from the start in New Zealand."
"At home she won four straight before heading to Australia and winning first time out in Sydney. Two starts later she won a Bill Ritchie (Stakes)."
"Her couple of Group One wins have come in high class races in Sydney and Melbourne and she was the clear winner on both occasions."
In her Flemington Group One win in the Champion (Mackinnon) Stakes she defeated the likes of Duais, Zaaki, Prowess, Montefilia and West Wind Blows.
"She's one of those mares that has kept getting better and better and right now she would be at the peak of her powers."
Bosma said Atishu would run next in the Group One Australian Cup before heading to Sydney to take her place in The Championships.
"She loves Flemington and her next start will be there in the Australian Cup and then she will head to either the Queen of the Turf or Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney."
"The most important thing is, considering the form she is racing in, she will be able to head to the breeding barn with plenty in reserve - that is important to us."
"Atishu was a lovely yearling. Her full sister the year before sold for $875,000 and Atishu was very similar looking."
"She has developed since into a lovely looking mare. She has great conformation and a lovely temperament."
Bosma said it would be an emotional time for connections on the Gold Coast in May when Atishu is offered as part of the Chris Waller Racing draft.
"There will be mixed emotions for sure. She has provided us with so many thrills. It will be sad to see her leave the team, but we are also excited about what the future will hold for her and being able to see what she can produce."
As well as boasting an outstanding race record, Atishu comes with an incredibly strong pedigree.
"Atishu is a wonderful prospect and we are honoured to have been entrusted to offer her at the National Sale," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "Atishu has been a star for her connections and we thank Albert and the Go Racing team for this amazing opportunity."
"Multiple Group One winner aside, Atishu represents one of New Zealand’s great families on the rise. Being out of full sister to the Champion 3YO in NZ, Daffodil, the depth of the family is represented through fellow NZ Champion 3YO, Aegon, and more recently G1 New Zealand Derby hero Orchestral who looks like one of the most exciting prospects to come out of New Zealand in recent years. Waikato Stud also has her stakes winning full sister Mazzolino, so you know the family is only going to be bred up to keep appreciating over the years to come."
"The National Broodmare Sale is the undisputed leading auction of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere - providing prospective buyers wonderful opportunities across all levels of the market."
"We will have a truly world class line up of racefillies and mares as well as broodmares catalogued for the Gold Coast."
Entries for the sale are closing soon. Anyone with enquiries about nominating for any section of the National Sale should contact a member of the Bloodstock Team at Magic Millions.
