Divine Madonna Makes Magic Millions Record of $2.7 million - 06-02-08

June 2 - This weekend at National Broodmare Sale, all eyes were on the noteworthy mare, Divine Madonna, when she came up for auction, and the gathered crowd was not disappointed as the outstanding thoroughbred fetched a breathtaking Magic Millions price of $2.7 million.

Divine Madonna's new owner is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who owns the highly respected international horse racing breeding operation, Darley, which currently stands stallions in six countries, including Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom, USA, Japan and France.

As a four-time Group 1 winner, Divine Madonna entered the National Broodmare Sale with a huge price tag on her head and , as expected, she reached a hefty sum, not only breaking the previous Queensland record, but also the prestigious Magic Millions record.

In fact, Divine Madonna now holds the distinction of being the second most expensive mare ever bought in auction in Australia, the first being of course two-time Group 1 winner, Virage De Fortune, who was bought in Sydney for a whopping $3.4 million in April this year.

After the sale, Darley Australia stud manager, John Sunderland, said that Divine Madonna would undoubtedly be one of 'the jewels of the company's outstanding broodmare band, and that while the mare's purchase price was high, he was delighted to have acquired her.'

The massive purchase was just one of many of late by the Darley group, which recently purchased the Ingham family's Woodlands Stud empire.

While sad at losing Divine Madonna, Mark Kavanagh, who purchased the mare as a yearling at the Adelaide Yearling Sale, and whose skills as a trainer turned her into a great race horse, was quoted as saying that he and his wife were delighted about turning an $80,000 investment into $2.7 million.

In her career, Divine Madonna has won eight races and earned over $2 million, including a string of outstanding Group 1 wins in the Emirates Stakes, Toorak Handicap, Myer Classic and Queen Of The Turf Stakes.