Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
A productive Magic Millions Virtual Sale took place on Tuesday afternoon; the online live auction heralded a top price of $2.6 million for star sprinter Olentia (Zoustar), and four lots selling for $500,000 or more, including a share in red hot stallion Extreme Choice, which sold to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA).
With a gross of $5,630,000, the 17 lots sold averaged $331,176, with a median of $90,000.
Olentia sparkles at top of Virtual Sale
Multiple Group-winning mare Olentia was the star of the show on Tuesday afternoon when knocked down for $2.6 million to Olly Tait’s Twin Hills Stud for Wathnan Racing, who is owned by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. The Emir's family has deep roots in horse racing, with his brother, Sheikh Joaan, heading Al Shaqab Racing, and his cousin, Sheikh Fahad, the principal of Qatar Racing.
Offered by Glenesk Thoroughbreds on behalf of Star Thoroughbreds, the 6-year-old half-sister to Group 3 winner Wandabaa (Wandjina) and dual Listed winner Malkovich (Choisir) accrued just shy of $1 million in prizemoney connections over a 23-start career under the steerage of Chris Waller, with seven wins including the G2 Emancipation Stakes, and was most recently third in the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara to Tashi (Sebring).
Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds was delighted with the result; “We had a reserve on her of $2 million, as we thought that was a good starting point for her. We hoped that she would fetch a little more than that, and when the sale price was knocked down as $2.6 million, we were elated.
“I think it’s correct to say we are especially elated that Olly Tait bought her because he's an internationally renowned judge of high quality bloodstock, and it was thrilling for us to know that he loved her and wanted to buy her.”
Martin and Star Thoroughbreds had a similarly stellar result at last year’s edition of the sale when selling G1 Coolmore Classic winner Espiona (Extreme Choice) for $4.15 million to Yulong; the winner of over $3.3 million on the track, she is currently in foal to Yulong resident Pierata off of an October cover.
Denise Martin and Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Star Thoroughbreds
“I'm not sure if we can do this every year,” Martin said. “But two years in a row with excellent results for our well-performed mares under the care of Chris and his team has just enabled us to have two very good sales to look back on now and to reflect on the success of the horses in their race careers. It was a great result and I’m thrilled she is going to a wonderful home.”
Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) purchased the daughter of Zoustar for $310,000 as a yearling when she was offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Tyreel Stud on behalf of breeder Bob Hannon. Her dam Mabkhara (Anabaa {USA}), now deceased, has produced eight foals to race for eight winners, with an unnamed I Am Invincible 2-year-old filly still to run.
Vienna Princess and Fortunate Kiss to join Yulong broodmare band
Yulong, signing as Highway Farm, took home the second and joint third highest priced lots at the Virtual Sale, going to $1 million to secure Listed Twilight Glow Stakes winner Vienna Princess (Snitzel) and $500,000 for Listed Glasshouse Handicap winner Fortunate Kiss (Divine Prophet).
“Vienna Princess just made sense to us,” said Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray. “She’s a half-sister to First Settler by Snitzel, so we’ll send her to Written Tycoon because it’s the logical mating for her. Snitzel has worked extremely well with Written Tycoon, and it’s a very nice family that will keep on growing and improving, so it’s great to add her to the band.”
Sam Fairgray | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Vienna Princess, whose close family includes Casino Prince and Best Of Bordeaux, is the 10th broodmare that Yulong has purchased at public auction this year for $1 million or more. Magic Bloodstock Racing offered the 6-year-old in Tuesday’s auction, having purchased her as a yearling for $400,000 from Baramul Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale.
Aside from her victory in the Twilight Glow, Vienna Princess had won the $1 million Silver Eagle and been subsequently beaten just two lengths in the $10 million Golden Eagle won by Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat {USA}) when also trained by Waller. She had also placed at Listed level and run fourth in the G2 Millie Fox Stakes to Zougotcha (Zoustar).
“So she'll retire and come back to the stud, and Fortunate Kiss will stay in work. She'll shift to the Hayes stable, they have some races picked out for her through the early part of the spring so we will see how she shapes up for some of the Group races. We would like to try and add a little more black-type to her page, but ultimately she will join the broodmare band.”
Gallery: Two horses that will join Yulong's broodmare band, images courtesy of Magic Millions
The 7-year-old Fortunate Kiss was offered by her trainers Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans on behalf of owner Ridgeport; Kennewell Racing, Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA), and Ridgeport Holdings had purchased her last year at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale for $150,000 when offered by Sullivan Bloodstock.
Placed on debut in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes as a juvenile, Fortunate Kiss had accrued several Group and Listed placings in her career before her breakthrough stakes win in the Glasshouse in early July.
| 31 | Olentia | Zoustar | Glenesk Thoroughbreds | $2,600,000 | Twin Hills Stud |
| 8 | Vienna Princess | Snitzel | Magic Bloodstock Racing | $1,000,000 | Highway Farm |
| 14 | Fortunate Kiss | Divine Prophet | Kennewell Racing | $500,000 | Highway Farm |
| 30 | Extreme Choice (share) | Not A Single Doubt | A Shareholder | $500,000 | Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) |
| 12 | Captain Amelia | Dundeel | John O'Shea Racing | $260,000 | Annalad Bloodstock |
Table: Top 5 lots at the 2025 Magic Millions Virtual Sale
