A beautiful Zoustar filly, who has a half sister racing in Saturday's Group One Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, topped Day One of the Perth Yearling Sale in the Swan Valley on Thursday.
The filly, presented by Ridgeport Holdings as Lot 25, was knocked down for $525,000 - the second highest price ever achieved in sale history.
Leading Melbourne based bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills was thrilled to snare the filly, a half sister to recent Group Two placed juvenile Chayan.
"She's a medium sized, athletic filly - just the style I like, particularly by the stallion," Mills said. "She stands over plenty of ground."
"I really loved her demeanour. I saw her the morning I got to the complex and then checked her again as my last inspection before I left, when they were virtually packing up."
"She'd had a heap of parades, probably done 100 laps of the complex and she was asleep in the box. But when she came out she took off and paraded so well and that sealed the deal."
Mills said the active pedigree was an extra incentive to get involved.
"The pedigree certainly helps as well. She's by a gun stallion and the two-year-old from the mare was very good on debut."
"I'm not sure she (Chayan) can win the Blue Diamond, but she was a good second and it's an endorsement that the mare can get a good one," Mills added.
The second highest price for the day was the Playing God sister to Bustler (ex Cosmah Domination) who sold for $475,000 to Pearce Racing in conjunction with Geisel Park Stud and Boomer Bloodstock.
"We tried to buy the full sister a couple of years ago, we really loved her but missed out," co-trainer Dan Pearce said. "We made a real effort to make sure we went home with the one we wanted today."
"Over the years we have missed horses and we've watched other trainers go around and win big races with them. The last two years we've really tried to buy the ones we want and lock onto them."
"We've got some beautiful two-year-olds at home as a result from that last year and we're really happy with what we've got today."
"I think she's as good, if not better, than the full (sister, who realised $625,000). Obviously she is very well related."
The vendor of the $475,000 seller, Mungrup Pty Ltd, finished Book One as leading vendor by average (3 or more sold), while the sire Playing God has top of the sire averages (3 or more sold).
There were a number of notable sales on the day - a number of sire and farm records, while the Hong Kong Jockey Club made their first ever purchase from the auction, a Playing God colt for $260,000.
"There was a really good vibe across the day," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "It had a great feel."
"The clearance rate was very encouraging, the gross is up on last year and the average is up almost $20,000. They are great figures."
"The local buyers are very spirited. This is their Grand Final and it's the big week to buy their new horses and they compete in good spirit here."
"From an interstate and international respect - the spend doubled on last year and that was the difference on gross. Those visitors were very willing to get involved and spend across the board."
"A real pleasing aspect today was the number of horses selling for $200,000 or more - last year it was 11 (lots) and today it was 20 - that shows great confidence in the Western Australian product."
"We are very pleased with today and there's more to look forward to tomorrow - there's a lot of opportunity from 10am in the morning."
To view the results of the sale or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
Book Two of the 2026 Perth Yearling Sale will commence at 10am (WA time) tomorrow (Friday).
SALE STATISTICS
(2025 Book 1 in brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 182 (190)
Lots Sold: 138 (152)
Lots Passed In: 30 (25)
Lots Withdrawn: 14 (13)
Sale Gross: $14,737,500 ($13,433,500)
Top Price: $525,000 ($450,000)
Average Price: $106,793 ($88,378)
Median Prince: $80,000 ($70,000)
Sold %: 82 (86)
BOOK ONE TOP SELLERS
$525,000 - Zoustar-Lubiton filly (Lot 25)
Vendor: Ridgeport Holdings / Buyer: Sheamus Mills B'stock (Vic)
$475,000 - Playing God-Cosmah Domination filly (Lot 154)
Mungrup Pty Ltd / Pearce Racing/Geisel Park Stud/Boomer B'stock (WA)
$360,000 - Pinatubo-Wilchino colt (Lot 111)
Mungrup Pty Ltd / Idan Young (WA)
$360,000 - Playing God-Amthaal colt (Lot 125)
Greenfields Lodge / Pearce Racing (WA)
$340,000 - Playing God-Dainty Tess filly (Lot 158)
Yarradale Stud / Byerley Bloodstock (WA)
LEADING BUYERS
(ranked by total spend)
$925,000 - Trevor Andrews - 7 lots
$635,000 - Ryan Hill Racing - 7 lots
$600,000 - Byerley Bloodstock - 3 lots
$530,000 - Pearce Racing - 3 lots
$525,000 - Michael Lane Racing/TMJ B'stock - 4 lots
$525,000 - Sheamus Mills B'stock - 1 lot
LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by gross)
$1,790,000 - Ridgeport Holdings - 9 sold
$1,595,000 - Greenfields Lodge - 10 sold
$1,055,000 - Mungrup Pty Ltd - 5 sold
$995,000 - Yarradale Stud - 5 sold
$925,000 - Darling View T'breds - 12 sold
LEADING VENDORS
(ranked by average - 3 or more sold)
$211,000 - Mungrup Pty Ltd - 5 sold
$198,889 - Ridgeport Holdings - 9 sold
$159,500 - Greenfields Lodge - 10 sold
$151,667 - Amelia Park Racing & Breeding - 3 sold
$150,000 - Forest View Farm - 3 sold
LEADING SIRES
(ranked by average - 3 or more sold)
$161,200 - Playing God - 25 sold
$100,625 - Maschino - 8 sold
$98,750 - Splintex - 8 sold
$87,500 - Marine One - 6 sold
$83,333 - Sessions - 3 sold
