Te Akau principal David Ellis has had a record year buying and syndicating yearlings, and he was again active at the 2024 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale over the last two days.

Ellis led the buying following day one, as he did for the first three days of the 2024 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January.

“It was a really good sale for us because we were able to buy the four horses we wanted at the prices we were prepared to pay, and we’ve already posted them on the Yearlings & Shares page on our website,” said Ellis, who chalked up his 60th yearling purchase this year.

“We always set a budget and on this occasion, we had a bit more in the tank on a couple of the lots, so that was pleasing.

“Our buying team has had a great year and been working diligently going through the catalogues, doing the inspections, and been able to secure them in the auction ring. It’s a lot of work, but I think the outcomes have been fantastic this year and it’s shown in the strength of the sales and syndicating.”

Heading the purchases, Ellis was able to buy a half-brother by Zoustar to stablemate Move To Strike whom he purchased as a yearling in 2023 at the Gold Coast, also from Baramul Stud.

Move To Strike vindicated the impressiveness of his five-length debut victory last December at Te Rapa when brilliantly winning the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in April at Trentham.

“It’s really exciting to have bought the half-brother to Move To Strike, and we rated him one of best colts we’ve seen this year,” Ellis said.

“We were particularly interested in him, and even more so because Zoustar offspring continue to really impress and the progeny of the dam, No Evidence Needed, are quickly adding more and more wins.

“He’s the spitting image of Move To Strike and No Evidence Needed has already left three two-year-old winners, including Move To Strike, who we think will improve again as a three-year-old, so it’s a very exciting family.

“The Written Tycoon we bought is unbelievable, just a beautiful filly, and we were thrilled to get her for $140,000.

“We bought a Cool Aza Beel filly, and we’ve broken in two of his first crop progeny already and they’re both really good to work with and showing us a lot.

“We trained Cool Aza Beel, he was a Group One winning Champion Two-Year-Old and I think he’s a very promising sire in the making.”