Michigan sire Zulu Magic dies at 12

Zulu Magic, a young sire in Michigan, died suddenly on Monday. He was 12.

The son of Johannesburg stood at Davidson’s Tracks-N-Time in Midland, where he was advertised for $1,000 during the most recent breeding season.

“We are heartbroken,” said Cindy Davidson, owner of Davidson’s Tracks-N-Time. “His foals were just starting to race, the oldest being 3-year-olds. We’re hoping his future foals leave him a little legacy in the years to come.”

Zulu Magic has sired three winners from four starters, and sits 10th on Michigan’s sire list by progeny earnings.

He was represented by his first stakes winner on June 30 when the filly Poof Its Magic won the Regret Stakes at Hazel Park. Poof Its Magic was named Michigan’s 2-year-old filly of the year in 2016, and she was one of two stakes-placed runners for the sire that season, joining Brother Z.

Zulu Magic won 4 of 17 starts over five seasons of racing, all at sprint distances, for earnings of $73,653.

He won his first two starts, the first as a juvenile at Hawthorne Race Course and the second at Fair Grounds as a 3-year-old, for owners Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner and trainer Steve Asmussen. The horse last raced in Michigan for owner Terrie Kisielewski and trainer Donald Evans.

Bred in Kentucky by Bill Justice, Zulu Magic hailed from the family of Grade 3/Group 3-placed stakes winners Twelve Pack Shelly and Kentucky Miss.