Zouzou, dam of group I-winning sprinter Zoustar, topped trading May 30 at the Magic Millions National broodmare sale, where records were surpassed for total sales and average price through three days.
Following his purchase of sale topper Monsoon Wedding for $2.3 million ($2,121,818 in United States dollars) on opening day May 28, Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud snagged Zouzou for $775,000 ($720,166) Friday.
At the close of the third session, the sale's total revenue stood at a record $69,030,000 ($64,175,403), almost $40 million more or 131% higher last year's sale. No fewer than 170 buyers spent a record average price of $129,756 ($120,630) of 532 horses, an 81% increase. The clearance rate slipped a bit to 84.5%, compared with 88.5% at last year's sale.
There were 31 mares over the three days that sold for more than $500,000 ($464,638), a Southern Hemisphere record. They included Monsoon Wedding and nine others from Muzaffar Yaseen's Teeley Assets dispersal, who each brought seven-figures on the sale's first day.
"It's been the most remarkable three days," Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox said. "It's been the biggest and strongest breeding stock sale held in the Southern Hemisphere. The market has been strong right through, particularly on the better quality lots. Competition was fierce from a buying bench that we haven't seen in the Southern Hemisphere before.
Zouzou, offered by Kulani Park and in foal to All Too Hard, most likely will be bred back to Pierro. Her son Zoustar, by Northern Meteor, has a 6-1-0 record from nine career starts that include victories in the 2013 Golden Rose Stakes (Aus-I) and Coolmore Stud Ascot Vale Stakes (Aus-I).
"There's a great pedigree there and we know how good Zoustar was," Tom Magnier said. "We have a host of horses at home we could use for her. We're lucky to have her, she's a lovely mare, and she was beautifully presented."
Cox credited Chauncey Morris, a former sales marketing associate at Keeneland who now is CEO of Aushorse, with drawing numerous high-profile buyers to the sale.
"The impact of those visitors is clearly evident in the results," Cox said.
Morris joined Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse Marketing as CEO in December 2011.
The sale continues June 1 with a general day of broodmares, and then shifts to the National yearling sale on June 4.
