New Zealand’s Little Avondale Stud sold their first ever million-dollar yearling when their Zoustar colt from a mare that has an 85 year history with the stud and family made $1.7million.
The colt is the first foal of Little Avondale homebred Belluci Babe, a Group III winner in Australia and half-sister to last Saturday’s Carbine Club Stakes winner Evaporate, as well as stakes winners Magnum and Pure Incanto.
Bought by Sam and Douglas Whyte, his future could well be in Hong Kong but will start his career in the stable of Liam Howley.
“It's a huge result, massive result for the stud,” said Little Avondale’s Sam Williams.
“And look, it goes back, we're 85 years old, selling at the National Sales and we're the oldest in New Zealand. But this colt goes back to the direct descendant of my grandmother's first ever yearling she sold 85 years ago. So this is very satisfying.”
Belluci Babe we raced over here with a group of guys, we syndicated her on a lease deal.
“She went on to be a pretty damn good racehorse on the track, winning six including the Wenona Stakes. We decided to keep her here to go to Zoustar rather than bring her home that first year.
“Always send them to a proven sire off the track. It's always been a stud policy.
“And if you think you've got one of the best ones you've got, go to one of the best ones you can afford and obviously Zoustar was that boy, and the result has just been magnificent for the stud.
“I've never had a horse have over 200 parades at a sale, and I think, as of the end of today, it was 226.”
Belluci Babe foaled a colt by Russian Revolution last season and was served by Proisir.
