Coolmore go to $5.1 million for Foret star Ramatuelle as McKulick tops November Sale

When Grade 1 winner and millionaire McKulick (hip 289) left the ring on Monday deep into Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale, she left as its highest-selling mare. Narvick International, agent for Grand Stud, went to $6 million to land the five-year-old daughter of leading European sire Frankel on a night top-class filly Ramatuelle was sold to Coolmore for $5.1 million.

Campaigned by Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown, McKulick won five Graded stakes, including the 2022 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes. She raced from two to five and won or placed in 14 Graded stakes.

McKulick was consigned by ELiTE. She is out of the Makfi stakes-placed winner Astrelle, who has also produced Group 3 winner Just Beautiful and Group 2 winner Fearless King.

"Her physique," said Emmanuel de Seroux on what appealed to him the most about McKulick. "She's a beautiful filly and she's by Frankel, the best stallion in the world. She's a Grade 1 winner; she's fantastic."

McKulick earned $1,955,290 from 20 starts, finishing on the board 15 times, with seven wins. She was bought at Tattersalls October Sale in 2020 for $245,369 by Mike Ryan, agent.

"We didn't expect that, we really can't take all the credit," said Bradley Weisbord, founder and managing partner of EliTE Sales. "All the credit goes to Seth Klarman and Chad Brown and Mike Ryan. They went over to Tattersalls and found a beautiful filly. She won a Grade 1, and we got a chance to sell the only Grade 1 winner by Frankel, and they've been the number one supporter since we started ELiTE, Chad and Seth. We've been waiting a long time to have a breakout sale for them, and we didn't expect that, the reserve was half of that."

Emmanuel de Seroux said mating plans had not been finalisedCredit: Fasig-Tipton Photo

There was strong international and domestic interest as the bidding war ensued.

"Several times he stopped, and then he came back," said de Seroux about Yoshiyuki Ito of Japan's Grand Stud.

He said they have yet to discuss any mating plans for McKulick.

Narvick International purchased three mares for Grand Stud and one for Pride Rock Monday night for a total of $11.7 million to become the sale's leading buyer.

Fasig-Tipton's "Night of The Stars Sale" saw 25 horses sell for $1 million or more among 172 horses sold for a total of $93,948,500, with an average of $546,212, down from last year's results. The median was $250,000. A 27.1 per cent RNA rate represents the 64 horses who failed to meet their reserve.

Last year's sale saw 154 horses sold of the 205 offered through the ring for a total of $101,281,000. The average price was $657,669, with a median of $295,000. A 24.9% RNA rate, represented the 51 horses who failed to meet their reserve.

"Another tremendous November Sale," said Boyd Browning, president and CEO of Fasig-Tipton. "Twenty-five horses sold for a million dollars or higher. Very, very competitive bidding. Obviously, tremendous support from an international buying base. Our friends from Japan continue to be major supporters of this sale. We also saw European participation, Australian participation, strong American participation. It was a very broad market.

"The market is certainly not easy, and it's discriminating," he added. "If you might have a little age on a mare, you might have a little question with the produce; if you give them a reason not to bid, they don't bid. I mean, that's just the reality."

'She is a special filly, incredible talent'

Three weanlings sold for $500,000 or more, topped by hip 26, a colt by Horse of the Year Flightline, from the Lane's End consignment, who sold for $675,000 to David Ingordo. A Justify colt (77), consigned by Eaton Sales, sold to Logan Bloodstock for $550,000. The highest-priced weanling filly was Mardigras Mischief, sold for $500,000 to Tropical Racing, from the Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consignment.

Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa was the leading consignor with a total of 14 horses for $20,235,000. It had many top race mares in its draft, including Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Moira, who sold for $4.3 million to Bayles, an international owners group. Browning said he wasn't at liberty to unveil their identity, but assured they are a major international player in the thoroughbred industry.

War Like Goddess sold for $1.8 million to Willingham Stud, and Adare Manor sold for $2.8 million to Katsumi Yoshida.

"She [Moira] is a special filly, incredible talent," said Jared Brudine, general manager at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. "A Ghostzapper mare, and we wish the new owners the best of luck. We're glad that Donato [Lanni] entrusted us with representing her again, and the whole group. Kevin Attard [trainer] and his team did a fantastic job."

'He's done an incredible job with her'

The last 10 hips included one of its brightest stars when Ramatuelle (310) sold for $5.1 million to Coolmore's MV Magnier.

The three-year-old daughter of Justify became a Group 1 winner when she captured the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp October 6. Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, the filly is the only runner out of Group winner Raven's Lady (Raven's Pass).

"She's a lovely filly, and in fairness to Christopher Head [trainer], he's done an incredible job with her," Magnier said of Ramatuelle. "Arthur Hoyeau, in fairness, spotted her as a yearling, and everybody else didn't really. She's a very good filly, and well done to them."

Ramatuelle looks set to be covered by Wootton Bassett after her purchase by CoolmoreCredit: Fasig-Tipton Photo

Magnier said the plan is to send her to Wootton Bassett next year. "That's what the guys want to do at the moment anyway," he added.

"What he's done this year with his first Irish crop, and what he did with his French crops has been very good, too," said Magnier of Wootton Bassett. "He's the leading sire of two-year-old Group winners, he set a record of Group 1 winners. He's very exciting."

Neal Clarke of Bedouin Bloodstock said: "I thought the sale was great, we're very happy, obviously the owners are very happy. She's a beautiful filly, she came in just the last 24 hours. She's been a complete angel and a princess, never put a foot wrong the whole time she was here.

"She was very popular all day. She has the kind of speed that I think they're looking for. She was a catch, there's no doubt about it. It's been a great sale for us, we're tickled with it."

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