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Trainer secures Zoustar colt for $560,000.

Having purchased a son of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) for a sale-topping $1 million on the first day of the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, co-trainer Ciaron Maher continued to make his presence felt at the auction on Friday purchasing two colts, headlined by a Zoustar (Northern Meteor) youngster for $560,000. 

Offered by Segenhoe Stud and catalogued as Lot 362, the colt is the first foal out of 2018 Dequetteville Stakes (Listed, 1050m) winner Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt), was placed at Group 1 level on five occasions. 

The colt's third dam is Listed winner Centaleigh (Centaine). 

Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) is carving out a good reputation as being a good broodmare sire, with his daughters producing nine stakes winners, including this season's Group 3-winning two-year-olds Enthaar (Written Tycoon) and Shaquero (Shalaa). Segenhoe's Peter O'Brien told Racing & Sports Bloodstock the colt looked more like his damsire than his sire Zoustar. 

"He looked more like a Not A Single Doubt," said O'Brien. "He wasn't that big, but he has a lovely hip, big head and an extraordinary action. The mare has a lovely action and so does Zoustar, so it wasn't a total surprise. 

"It is a terrific start for the mare. When you sell a horse, you want them to have the best start and you couldn't get a better start than going to Ciaron. Aquis own the mare and she lives with us and she is in foal to Written Tycoon.

"Not A Single Doubt is really beginning to make a name for himself as a broodmare sire, he is the one stallion that we at Segenhoe are trying to get as many mares by him as we can. His success this year on the track as a broodmare sire is very evident and that action he puts into his horses is certainly coming through on the damside. We are literally sweeping the country trying to find mares by him."

O'Brien said the strength of the sale was underpinned by end-users: "Overall, having these end-users at the sale, that's the reason a lot of these weanlings are making extraordinary money."

During the two-day sale, Segenhoe Stud sold all 19 of their offerings for a gross of $2,624,500 at an average of $138,132. 

Maher also purchased a weanling colt by Choisir (Danehill Dancer) for $200,000 on Friday and the trainer's bloodstock manager Will Bourne said they had intentionally targeted the sale to purchase colts, who they ordinarily would have bought as yearlings. 

"Being out of a Not A Single Doubt, he really looked like that stallion," said Will Bourne of the colt out of Fundamentalist. "The mother was a very tough filly as a racehorse, who was Group 1-placed consistently. He was a good sort, who had good balance. 

"The yearling sales are so buoyant, so we thought we would get ahead of the game a bit and think outside the box to attack quality colts at the weanling sales. We are always looking to be a step ahead and we saw an opportunity, so decided to take it."

Maher finished the sale as the leading buyer, purchasing three youngsters for an aggregate of $1,760,000 at an average of $586,667. 

Zoustar had eight weanlings sell for a gross of $2,785,000 at an average of $348,125.