Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds has once again struck gold at auction, with quality mare Olentia selling for a massive $2.6 million at the Magic Millions Virtual Sale.
Just a year on from achieving a record-breaking $4.15 million sale for Group 1-winning mare Espiona, Martin’s syndication efforts continue to deliver impressive returns for her clients.
Although Olentia didn’t scale the same Group 1 heights as her stablemate, her strong résumé – highlighted by victories in three stakes races including the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes – made her one of the headline acts in the virtual catalogue.
Bidding opened at $500,000 and quickly escalated, culminating in Twin Hills Stud’s Olly Tait securing the mare via telephone after a heated battle with online competitors.
Tait, who played a pivotal role in the emergence of Qatari powerhouse Wathnan Racing, had narrowly missed out on another prized Zoustar mare earlier this year, being underbidder on Zougotcha, who fetched $5.25 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when sold to Coolmore.