Kiku Brings A$1.46 Million At Magic Millions From Katsumi Yoshida

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 Mr. Yoshida and I'm sure she will be very well mated here in Australia initially. I thank those involved from Jon Freyer to Mr. Yoshida, the price was wonderful.”

Bred by Frank Meduri, Kiku is a full-sister to G1 Newmarket H. hero Zoutori (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), and was an A$300,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling when picked up by Star Thoroughbreds from the consignment of Amarina Farm. She raced for an ownership group that included Nick Vass Bloodstock and Bangaloe Stud.

“I always said to Denise that she should be making north of $1 million, but where she settled after that, I wasn't sure, it was always going to be for the market to determine,” Howard told The Thoroughbred Report.

“Mr. Yoshida has bought himself a beautiful mare. She's by one of the best stallions, has an outstanding pedigree and was a seriously good race mare. She's a good 16.2hh–she stands over ground and has a really lovely temperament. She's got that international pedigree and that may have made great appeal. Obviously, she's a sister to a Newmarket H. winner, but her grandam is by Sadler's Wells and she's a three-quarter sister in blood to New Approach (Ire) who was an outstanding racehorse and now sire.”

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch thanked the connections of Kiku for the opportunity to offer her.

“Denise is such a wonderful friend of Magic Millions and we thank her and her syndicate of owners,” he said. “Obviously, we were disappointed that the system failed during the final minutes of the online auction and we must thank all the affected parties for their understanding.”

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California Chrome Co-Owner Passes Away

Denise Martin, the co-owner of California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), passed away June 14 at the age of 61. Martin and partners found the heights of success with the two-time Horse of the Year. The popular seven-time Grade I winner, whose victories included the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Dubai World Cup, currently stands in Japan.

Martin was the wife of Perry Martin, who also co-bred California Chrome. The couple split from their partners in the horse and founded Martin Racing in 2016, the same year California Chrome won his second Horse of the Year title. They have remained active in the horse business and recently won the GIII Steve Sexton Mile S. with homebred Mo Mosa (Uncle Mo).

“Denise greatly enjoyed interacting with racing fans, whether she communicated with them in person or through California Chrome's official social media channels,” said Perry Martin. “She also was solely responsible for all of Martin Racing's charitable giving endeavors.”

Martin was a chemist. She served as CEO of Martin Testing Labs in Sacramento from 2000 to 2020. She previously worked for the United States Air Force as a civilian employee at McClellan Air Force Base. The Martins were living in Wyoming at the time of her death.

Survived by her husband of 35 years, Martin also leaves behind her daughter, Kelly; her son, Perry, Jr.; and her brothers Andrew and Richard Brudniak.

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