| Star racemare Olentia is headed to the Northern Hemisphere after topping yesterday’s Magic Millions August Virtual Sale conducted from the Gold Coast. |
| The multiple Group winner and last start Group One placegetter was knocked down for $2.6 million to the bid of Olly Tait’s Twin Hills Stud. A number of telephone and online bidders competed for the impeccably bred daughter of Zoustar and it was Tait’s historic final bid that secured the outstanding breeding prospect. Tait, who at May’s National Broodmare Sale was underbidder on $5.25 million sale topper Zougotcha, confirmed the purchase was made on behalf of Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani’s Wathnan Racing operation. Olentia is the first purchase at public auction in Australia for Wathnan and Tait said the mare would now be exported to the Northern Hemisphere. “She’s a lovely mare by a great stallion and she’s got a top class pedigree,” Tait said. “She’s got so much to like about her.” “She will head north and be bred to Northern Hemisphere time. We haven’t made a decision as to which stallion as yet – but given the way she is bred she is an exciting addition.” “She’s a lovely mare and any breeder in the world would be happy to have her,” Tait added. “We are delighted.” Olentia was originally a $310,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for Star Thoroughbred and Brett Howard’s Randwick Bloodstock Agency and she earned almost $1 million before her retirement. It was Howard’s Glenesk Thoroughbreds who consigned the mare for the August Virtual Sale on behalf of Star Thoroughbreds. “Over the years, Brett has found for us so many very outstanding mares, including Noire, Fiesta, Invincibella, Kiku, Espiona and now Olentia. He’s been a great help to Star,” Denise Martin said. Martin, who gathered with a number of the mare’s connections to watch the sales process in Sydney, was thrilled with the $2.6 million sale price. “Olly Tait is such a respected international racing participant, and for him to like her as much as he did – and to buy her – was an enormous thrill,” Martin noted. “It will always be special to have presented the first horse purchased in Australia by Wathnan Racing.” “The Magic Millions team was so magnificent. Barry (Bowditch) was a dream to deal with and the process was so easy and after Espiona last year it’s again proven a huge success,” Martin added. All up some $5.63 million was traded on 17 lots sold at an average price of $331,000. “We were delighted with the results of our second August Virtual Sale,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “We had great interest from prospective buyers and we thank everyone who supported the auction.” “Olentia was always going to be a highlight offering and we’re very grateful to be given the opportunity to offer the mare on behalf of Denise Martin and her Star Thoroughbreds ownership group.” “It’s fantastic to see Olly Tait buying Olentia on behalf of Wathnan Racing. They were active at the recent National Sale and it’s great to see them secure an outstanding prospect like Olentia.” “As well as her first class race record, Olentia possesses an incredible pedigree – packed full of speed and black type.” Olentia was one of two seven figure sellers on the day who graduated from the Gold Coast Yearling Sale before becoming a stakes winner in the Chris Waller stable. Vienna Princess was snapped up earlier in the Virtual Sale by Highway Farm for $1 million. “It was a unique way to sell her,” her part owner Peter Tighe said. “All of the ownership group were happy with the result.” “We bought her at Magic Millions and raced her with great success and we were all more than happy to sell her through Magic Millions virtually.” “She’s going to Yulong and they are standing her half brother First Settler – it’s a good story all round. We are thrilled.” Sam Fairgray, Chief Operating Officer of Yulong, said the mare an an outstanding prospect who they were keen to snap up. “She was the perfect fit for Written Tycoon and that’s where she will be headed,” Fairgray said. “Snitzel works well with Written Tycoon.” “Being a stakes winning half sister to First Settler it seemed like a no-brainer. She will go back to the farm and be retired to stud.” “Another Written Tycoon colt from the family won the second race at Sandown today (Wednesday) – it’s a lovely pedigree, a family that will keep on producing.” “She’s a stakes winner by a champion from a great family,” Fairgray added. “Get a nice foal and you’ll get out the first year.”The Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans stable celebrated the $500,000 sale to Highway Farm of recent stakes winner Fortunate Kiss. Connections purchased her at last year’s National Broodmare Sale for $150,000. Since then she raced on and earned $280,000 for her owners before yesterday’s $500,000 sale – a “massive result” according to Kennewell. A lifetime breeding right in Newgate Farm’s sire sensation Extreme Choice was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock for $500,000. “Overall we were thrilled with the results of the sale – to have a couple of seven figure plus sellers and a couple more at $500,000 was fantastic,” Bowditch added. “The Virtual Sale concept with live auctioneers and a more streamlined sale process has proven popular with vendors and buyers alike.” To view the sale results, or to make an offer on a passed in lot, click here. |
