Espiona Sells for $4.15million

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday July 31

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.

$3.3million earner Espiona was sold on Wednesday for $4.15million!! - image Steve Hart

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.

Advertisement

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 a $!90,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase for Star Thoroughbreds / Randwick Bloodstock.

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.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Half-Brother to Espiona for Inglis Easter
Extreme Choice mare Espiona roared back into top form at Sandown on Saturday when charging home to win the Group III MRC Mannerism Stakes (1400m) putting the spotlight on her Inglis Easter bound half-brother by Capitalist.
That was Special - Espiona Romps in Desirable Stakes
The dawn of what promises to be a spectacular career for Espiona, who kept her record at a perfect two for two with a contemptuous six and a half-length romp in the Listed Off the Track Desirable Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on VRC Oaks Day.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Do Early Winners Equate to Long Term Stud Success?
As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Espiona Gets Her Group 1 in Coolmore Classic
Few doubted she possessed Group 1 ability, and while Espiona took a little longer than expected, the daughter of Extreme Choice achieved the feat in Saturday’s $600,000 Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.
Espiona Cracks $1million Winning G2 Golden Pendant
Champion trainer Chris Waller had a trio of Group I winning mares engaged in the $400,000 Group II ATC Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday with Espiona claiming the prize ahead of her stablemate Atishu.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.