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Source: Magic Millions
Triple Group One winner Zougotcha became the most expensive horse sold at auction in the Southern Hemisphere this year when she realised $5.25 million at today’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
The prized daughter of Zoustar was offered as part of a quality Chris Waller Racing draft and she became the second highest priced horse ever sold at the National Sale following Imperatriz’s virtual sale at $6.6 million twelve months ago.
Coolmore’s Tom Magnier secured Zougotcha – one of 14 fillies and mares to sell for the magical seven figures – on a sensational day of selling on the Gold Coast.
“Well done to Chris Waller and all his team,” a delighted Magnier said. “She was a beautiful mare and everybody was on her this week.”
“Olly Tait and his team were underbidders. They are very good judges. She will go to Wootton Bassett.”
“Having Wootton Bassett back this year, it gave us the confidence to find these mares and what he is doing both in Australia and Europe, we are very fortunate to be in this position and to get this mare.”
“We are very close to Sophie Baker and the Waller team. When you look at these top ones that they keep putting through the sale, they’re blue chip mares for everyone.”
“Hopefully they might be buying the offspring in years to come,” Magnier added.
Christine Cook, one of Zougotcha’s delighted part owners during her racing career, wiped away tears when the gavel fell.
“I only ever cry happy tears,” she said. “It’s the end of one era and the start of another.”
“That’s crazy stuff (the sale price). It’s just what every racehorse owner ever dreams of doing.”
“It’s not what you think of when you buy them, but it’s so lovely to see that she’s so well thought-of as an animal, as a horse, that somebody thinks she’s worth that.”
“She was just such an amazing animal. The people we were in her with were just incredible, we had so much fun with her – there was never any arguments about where she was going and what she was doing. We just went on her ride, which was wonderful.”
“It’s just unbelievable, genuinely unbelievable,” Cook added. “I just hope she makes beautiful babies.”
Another triple Group One winner from the Chris Waller Racing draft offered today was the Go Racing syndicated star Atishu.
The outstanding daughter of Savabeel was purchased by the powerful Yu Long Investments (Australia) team for $2.7 million.
“Mr Zhang was very impressed when he saw her,” Yulong’s Sam Fairgray said. “She’s a beautiful type so it is great to have her in the broodmare band.”
“She doesn’t need to take on Via Sistina (on the track) so she’s going straight to the breeding barn.”
“She will probably go to Alabama Express. I think it is a really nice cross. She’s a beautiful mare so it is exciting to have her.”
“She’s always been one of those very consistent mares in good races, so to have a three-time Group One winning mare and she gets in there with some lovely other blue hens,” Fairgray added.