Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Sales-toppers don’t always justify their pricetags, but in the case of Zoukerino it may yet be that his purchasers from the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale find themselves with a bargain in the wake of Saturday’s victory.
Typical only in the way that stories of success with thoroughbreds are rarely simple ones, Zoukerino’s begins with withdrawals from two sales before he was to head to the Gold Coast and be given the chance to shine at the beginning of June last year.
Zoukerino wins the Listed The Rosebud at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“…he had a throat infection, so he wouldn’t have passed the scope,” explained John Muir, owner of Milburn Creek Stud. “Unfortunately, we had to withdraw him from the sales.”
That put paid to his participation in both the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. When he was finally ready, he proved extremely popular, making it to the top of the list for Suman Hedge, who purchased the colt for $500,000 on behalf of Sheriff Iskander.
“Sheriff Iskander bought the horse on the recommendation of Suman Hedge. I loved the colt that much, I thought it was the best yearling the mare had produced, and I said to Sheriff: ‘Any chance of me buying a leg in the horse?’ which I did.”
“I loved the colt (Zoukerino) that much, I thought it was the best yearling the mare had produced, and I said to Sheriff: ‘Any chance of me buying a leg in the horse?’ which I did.” - John Muir
So taken was Hedge by the horse that he too became one of the co-owners.
A standout from a strong family
For Zoukerino’s dam, the Hussonet (USA) mare Walk With Attitude, this wasn’t her first good-looking produce. At the Inglis Australian Easter Sale in 2018, Spendthrift went to $1.55 million to secure Spend, a now dual-winning full brother to Zoukerino who was Listed placed in the G3 MRC Zeditave S.
Despite the more than $1 million in price difference, Muir reported that early on he and his team held Zoukerino in even higher regard than his older brother – and not just at the Sale, but right from the start. He passed the credit on to farm manager Scott Holcombe, who highlighted him as such at that early stage.
Spend, Zoukerino's full brother | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He (Spend) was a very nice colt, but this particular colt just had something… Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but he had that wow factor, I just loved him.
“My manager, Scott Holcombe… Yes, I pay the bills, I own the stud, but he has the expertise. He said to me: ‘John I think this is the best horse we have ever produced.’ That was before he’d done anything.”
Whilst Walk With Attitude was no slouch herself, being a winner of the Listed VRC Plate (plus placed in the Listed SAJC Morphettville Guineas), it is under Zoukerino’s second dam that his pedigree carries its most impressive features.
John Muir
That mare, Hillfa (Danehill {USA}), also a Listed winner, is a three-quarter sister to Massarra (Danehill {USA}), meaning Zoukerino can count amongst his relatives none other than stallions Pride Of Dubai, Kodiac (GB) and Gustav Klimt (Ire).
What lies ahead
Whilst they can now be confident that they have at the very least a smart colt on their hands, Muir said that before the race he wasn’t sure what to expect.
“He’s a new kid on the block; he hasn’t had the race experience like a lot of them as 2-year-olds. He won his 2-year-old race on the Randwick-Kensington track a couple of weeks ago. It was questionable…is he a one off? I think he proved himself today, he’s a serious horse.”
“He (Zoukerino) won his 2-year-old race on the Randwick-Kensington track a couple of weeks ago. It was questionable…is he a one off? I think he proved himself today (Saturday), he’s a serious horse.” - John Muir
The question concerned was over not the style of his win (going away with a 3.33l margin), but mainly of the Heavy 10 conditions that day producing a fair reflection of form.
If Muir resisted a premature belief in Zoukerino’s ability, quite the opposite can be said for his trainer, John O’Shea.
“John was super confident,” reported Muir. “I’m not a punter myself so I didn’t have a cent on him. John O’Shea was so enthusiastic about the horse. It’s probably the first horse I’ve had with John so I didn’t know how to treat John and his enthusiasm.
Zoukerino as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“From here on I guess he’s got a chance to show his wears and I hope he can step up to the mark as he has to.
“I don’t know what John’s got planned, he’s got high hopes for the horse, but we’ll take it one day after the next.”
More to come in the family
Whatever Zoukerino goes on to achieve, Milburn Creek have plenty to look forward to with his siblings and future progeny of his dam both on the track and at the sales. Not only are sales figures impressive, but reports from the trainers have been good too.
Zoukerino after winning the Listed The Rosebud at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Funnily enough, Gaby (Nutt) who works for Ciaron Maher came up to me after the race. They bought the half-sister by I Am Invincible this year at the sales. Sheriff has got a hunk of it, and she was telling me how well it’s going, so we live in hope.”
That filly was an $800,000 purchase at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, and in conjunction with the familiar face of Suman Hedge once again.
Following that filly is a yearling colt by The Autumn Sun who, whilst different to his half-brother, is certainly likeable according to Muir.
The I Am Invincible x Walk With Attitude filly which sold to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $800,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He’s a very nice horse. He’s a different horse to Zoukerino, by The Autumn Sun, probably a bit more scope – probably a bit more like The Autumn Sun himself. He’ll probably be offered at (Inglis) Easter (Sale) this year.”
Due a foal by Zoustar this year, Walk With Attitude has certainly been given every chance with her matings. However, with Saturday’s result, a change of plan may now be in order for this year.
“She’s booked to go to So You Think, I’m not saying we won’t carry on with that – we’ll have to do a bit of thinking,” said Muir, and he continued: “I’d say maybe back to Snitzel.”
“She’s (Walk With Attitude) booked to go to So You Think, I’m not saying we won’t carry on with that – we’ll have to do a bit of thinking... I’d say maybe back to Snitzel.” - John Muir
Wherever she goes next, it is a family that has been well cultivated by Muir, a breeder whose experience and good nature leads him to recognise that nice horses don’t arrive without a small share of luck. As he reflected on the Zoukerino’s early days at the stud once again, he drew wisdom from a popular film.
“He had a magnificent eye; he was built like a real sprinter… he looked like he would run from the day he was conceived. As Forest Gump said at the bus stop: ‘Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get’ – and breeding is a bit like that.”
