Denise Martin and her Star Thoroughbreds owners of Group I winning mare Espiona got the biggest pay day of all on Wednesday afternoon when their star mare was sold through Magic Millions Online in a virtual sale for $4.15million.
Prepared for sale by Randwick Bloodstock’s Glenesk Thoroughbreds, the five year-old Extreme Choice mare was always going to be a highly desirable commodity having won the Group I ATC Coolmore Classic among her seven career wins for the Chris Waller stable that netted over $3.3million in prizemoney.
There was a protracted bidding duel for the mare which concluded with Zhijun Zhao securing her for $4.15million, so she will be headed to join the Yulong broodmare band this spring.
Zhijun Zhao was the biggest buyer at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale earlier this year purchasing eight mares for $13.125 million with champion mare Imperatriz the jewel in the crown at $6.6million.
Espiona was originally purchased by Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency from the Torryburn Stud draft at Magic Millions back in 2020 for $190,000 so has proven a phenomenally good investment.
"We are elated," an emotional Denise Martin said moments after the sale. "We were hoping for $3 million but to get $4.15 million is beyond our expectations.
"We had 10 of her ownership group together in Sydney along with trainer Chris Waller to watch the sale and it was just amazing. I don't think any will be heading back to work or home soon!
"I can't thank the Magic Millions team enough for their incredible promotion of the mare and to help us achieve the most remarkable price. From the moment it was decided to retire Espiona it has been a wonderful experience for connections. I couldn't be happier."
"The virtual sale was a wonderful opportunity to market a special mare to the world and it's been a great success. We are so, so pleased."
Chris Waller was thrilled for the Espiona team to get such a great result.
"I'm over the moon for Denise, Star Thoroughbreds, the owners - it's just amazing," Waller said. "It was a fitting result for the horse that she was.
"She had everything that the breeders want. She had performance, she has the pedigree and the type and that's what Star Thoroughbreds buy.
"It's a bitter sweet moment, but she won't be lost to the industry and now we can go back to Magic Millions and buy some more Espionas."
Espiona is the only filly from her dam Dahooil, who died in 2022 and her only other foal is an unraced two year-old Capitalist colt called Transactions that made $275,000 as a yearling and is trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Espiona is one of two Group I winning mares for Newgate Farm’s outstanding sire Extreme Choice with the other being She’s Extreme, who sold for $3.4million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale this year to Tom Magnier.
Extreme Choice stands at a fee of $275,000 this spring.
Magic Millions can take pride in a job well done with the successful sale of Espiona.
"We are so thrilled for Denise Martin and her ownership group," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "The mare was a sensation on the track and we now hope she can do likewise at stud for her new connections.
"This auction has shone a light on the Virtual Sale process and the opportunity is now there for connections of other horses to join a similar sale on August 27.
"Entries for that sale are closing very soon so we encourage people to get online or speak to a team member and not miss a great opportunity on the eve of the breeding season," Bowditch added.
