Star Thoroughbreds

By Renee Geelen/TTRAusNZ On Wednesday, Star Thoroughbreds announced that Vin Cox would be their yearling selection advisor for the 2026 sales season. The decision comes off the back of an eight-year association with Brett Howard of Randwick Bloodstock who has announced his retirement. The Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock team have been purchasing yearlings for over eight years and recent spring star Aeliana (Castelvecchio) is a big highlight. The G1 Australian Derby winner has garnered over A$2.7 million for her connections and was a NZ$180,000 purchase from Rich Hill Stud's...

Multiple Group-winning mare Olentia was the star of the Magic Millions Virtual Sale on Tuesday when going the way of Olly Tait's Twin Hills Stud for A$2.6 million. Tait later confirmed that the daughter of Zoustar was bought on behalf of Wathnan Racing as a broodmare prospect. Offered by Glenesk Thoroughbreds on behalf of Star Thoroughbreds, the six-year-old half-sister to Group 3 winner Wandabaa (Wandjina) and dual Listed winner Malkovich (Choisir) accrued just shy of A$1 million in prize-money over a 23-start career under the steerage of Chris Waller, with...

Zhijun Zhao secured Group 1-winning sprinter Espiona (Aus) (Extreme Choice {Aus}) for A$4.15 million (€2,490,512) at a standalone virtual sale held by Magic Millions on Wednesday. Arrowfield Stud was the underbidder. Trained by Chris Waller for Denise Martin's Star Thoroughbreds, Espiona won seven of her 24 starts and earned over A$3.3 million in prize-money during her illustrious career, with her biggest success coming in 2023 when she defeated the multiple Group 1 heroine Pride Of Jenni (Aus) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) by a nose to win the G1 Coolmore Classic...

Australian Group 1 winner Espiona (Aus) will be offered by agent Glenesk Thoroughbreds in a standalone virtual sale set to be held by Magic Millions at 3pm (AEST) on Wednesday, July 31. Trained by Chris Waller for Denise Martin's Star Thoroughbreds, Espiona won seven of her 24 starts and earned over A$3.3 million in prize-money during her illustrious career, with her biggest success coming in 2023 when she defeated the multiple Group 1 heroine Pride Of Jenni (Aus) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) by a nose to win the G1 Coolmore...

Group 2 winner Kiku (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) brought A$1.46 million from Katsumi Yoshida in a special standalone auction hosted by Magic Millions on Thursday. Consigned by Brett Howard's Glenesk Thoroughbreds as agent for Star Thoroughbreds, the 6-year-old was offered unreserved as a broodmare prospect. "Magic Millions handled an unusually difficult situation very professionally and it worked out extremely well," Star Thoroughbreds' Denise Martin told The Thoroughbred Report of the technical difficulties that cropped up in the last few minutes of the proceedings. "We're elated the mare has been bought by...