Denise Martin - Star Thoroughbreds
TDN AusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?
Denise Martin: I am originally from Tasmania. My father was inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame as an Icon a few years ago, because of his accomplishments in Australian rules football and cricket. He has always followed racing and I recall attending the Hobart Cup as a teenager.
Star Thorougbreds' Denise Martin
Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?
DM: Sebring, everyone dreams of winning a Golden Slipper and our Star colt did just that and then went on to become a very successful stallion.
TDN AusNZ: Do you have a favourite day on a racecourse? Why?
DM: Anywhere you have a winner is a favourite day on a racecourse but Doncaster and Golden Slipper days both provide wonderful racing with top-class horses featured all throughout their programs.
TDN AusNZ: Could you tell us how you got into this industry, about your job now and what you love most about it?
DM: I was very fortunate to have a wonderful career in the international hotel industry in a variety of overseas countries prior to establishing my own company. I had the belief that a syndication business would allow me to meet a large number of interesting people and at the same time combine my love of horse racing.
Hugh Bowman with Denise Martin and Chirs Waller following Invinicbella's win in the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Classic
TDN AusNZ: Who do you believe to be a value sire for the upcoming breeding season? Why?
DM: Needs Further, he has done a tremendous job to date and given the right opportunity he's proven he can sire top class horses. There wouldn't be too many proven sires in Australia with his record which broodmare owners can access for under $15,000. Star has the exciting 3 year old filly Deroche by Needs Further. She has won 9 of 13 starts and is a last start Group 3 winner, defeating the older mares.
TDN AusNZ: Is there a stallion that you consider to be under the radar?, and why?
DM: Vancouver, Star purchased two of his lovely colts at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast sale. To date he has had four black type 2-year-olds. I think he could be on a similar trajectory to fellow Golden Slipper winner Pierro, who at the end of his first crop had just two black type 2-year-olds and who is now battling it out for Australian Champion Sire honours.
Denise believes Vancouver could be a sire under the radar | Standing at Coolmore
TDN AusNZ: Which stallion, ever, do you think was the best type?
DM: I Am Invincible, he is a great looking sprinting-type with excellent conformation and he consistently sires similar looking progeny. Star's had fabulous success to date with his stock including Invincibella and Fiesta and we hope to have even more as we have five young fillies by the stallion trained by Chris Waller.
TDN AusNZ: Which first season sire (other than your own) do you believe is most exciting?
DM: That's a really difficult question. This year Star purchased yearlings by a number of highly credentialed first crop sires including Alpine Eagle, American Pharoah (USA), Astern, Divine Prophet, Extreme Choice, Maurice (Jpn), Shalaa (Ire), Star Turn, Winning Rupert and I really stretched the budget on an absolutely gorgeous Territories (Ire) filly at the Melbourne Premier; she was the sale's second highest-priced filly at $350,000. This could well be a vintage crop of stallions.
TDN AusNZ: What was your favourite weanling, yearling or mare purchase this year?
DM: I bought a filly by Territories this year at the Premier sale in Melbourne and I thought she was a magnificent physical specimen with an excellent pedigree. She has broken in like a very good filly and seems quite special.
The Territories (Ire) x Kaniana filly purchased by Star Thoroughbreds from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale for $350,000, from the draft of Millford Thoroughbreds
TDN AusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry? (Person not horse).
DM: Sebastian Hutch from Inglis: his great drive and commitment to the industry is outstanding. He’s a classic example of the often stated principle “those who want to make it happen, will”.
Oh and very much more than an “honourable mention” to Star’s own Emma Cully who is not only a very great person but a wonderful contributor to Star’s success over the 8 years with us. (I wanted this response to be objective!)
TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?
DM: Single channel television racing coverage would be a great start and a firm commitment from the states to work together to allow for the best possible race programming is a very close second wish on the list.
TDN AusNZ: If you weren’t in this industry what would you do?
DM: I’m very proud of Star and all we have achieved to date, but I remember throughout my hotel career that I had thought it would be lovely to be a marriage celebrant as you would surely only ever be surrounded by happy people.
TDN AusNZ: How did you keep busy in isolation?
DM: Walking and more walking. I must have been to Melbourne and back on foot by now...
