Breeders' Cup withdrawal Ramatuelle among the big names at 'Night of the Stars' sale bonanza

She may have missed out on running at the Breeders’ Cup in California but Ramatuelle still has a date in the sale ring in Kentucky on Monday.

Fasig-Tipton’s November Sale, known as the ‘Night of the Stars’, fires the gun on some exciting breeding stock auctions in the state, with Keeneland following on from Tuesday.

The Christopher Head-trained three-year-old Ramatuelle, one of seven Group/Grade 1 winners by rising star sire Justify, had been due to contest the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar, for which she was second favourite, but was scratched after a positron emission tomography scan (Pet) found evidence of bone remodelling in her legs.

Ramatuelle has won four of her nine races, led by her last-time-out triumph in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, and has never finished worse than third.

Co-owner Arthur Hoyeau said in a statement: “We are deeply disappointed that Ramatuelle has been withdrawn from the Breeders' Cup, especially with the anticipation surrounding her as a leading contender in this prestigious event.

“She has been moving beautifully all week at Del Mar and is in peak physical condition, making the outcome understandably frustrating for our team. 

“We have immense respect for the Breeders' Cup's rigorous protocols and the dedicated veterinary team, whose responsibility to protect equine athletes is essential to our sport. Although Ramatuelle's Pet Scan report stated 'no definitive major concern for breakdown was identified,' it showed signs of bone remodelling. While this is common in three-year-olds, it prompted the decision to proceed with an abundance of caution and withdraw her from the race.”

Hoyeau added: “As a Group 1-winning daughter of Justify, Ramatuelle remains nominated for the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, and we will take a day to carefully consider her next steps.

“We have a deeply talented and healthy filly in Ramatuelle, and while the disappointment of today's outcome is fresh, we're looking forward with optimism to an exciting future for her. We are grateful for the care and diligence of everyone involved in her career.”

Fasig-Tipton initially catalogued 300 entries for the sale, to be held in Lexington from 2pm local time (7pm GMT).

"Fasig-Tipton has assembled some outstanding November catalogues through the years, but this may be our deepest yet," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr.  "We have 70 Graded stakes winners or producers catalogued, 24 of which are Grade 1.

"We have international champions, a Breeders' Cup winner, the dam of the Kentucky Derby winner, multiple mares in foal to the world's leading stallions, and an exceptional group of weanlings – all offered in a single afternoon and evening session.

Boyd Browning Jr: 'This sale provides the highest concentration of quality of any breeding stock sale in the world'Credit: Fasig-Tipton Photos

"This sale provides the highest concentration of quality of any breeding stock sale in the world, with a unique format and atmosphere that buyers from around the globe thoroughly enjoy."

While Ramatuelle (hip 310), who is consigned through Bedouin Bloodstock, did not get a chance to showcase her talent to an American audience ahead of the sale, plenty of the big names set to walk the ring have already done so, including a mare who would have been one of her rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Chili Flag (235).

She is consigned by Elite, as is Frankel’s Tattersalls Book 1 Sale graduate McKulick (289), winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks in 2022.

Hill ‘n’ Dale’s draft includes a couple of three-time Grade 1 winners in War Like Goddess (210), who finished a fair fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Saturday, and Adare Manor (214), who has won her last three starts, most recently the Clement L Hirsch Stakes.

The ex-Richard Fahey-trained Fev Rover (253), a dual Grade 1 winner in North America since her move to Mark Casse, had been due to sell at this auction last year but was a withdrawal.

Kathmandu (276), who finished unplaced on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Del Mar on Saturday, was just a head away from winning this year’s Poule d’Essai des Pouliches for the Brian Meehan stable.

Takingtimeoff (318), a half-sister to undefeated Breeders’ Cup champion Immersive, was a late addition. A winning daughter of Curlin, Takingtimeoff is in foal to Yaupon and will be offered by Hunter Valley Farm.

The regally bred Prettiest (174) – by Dubawi out of Alice Springs – is due to leave the Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore fold, while Velocidad (208), a Curragh Group 2 winner for O’Brien’s son Joseph, is also among the offerings. Both sell in foal to Justify.

Ma'am (285), meanwhile, the Kentucky Derby-winning dam of this year's hero Mystik Dan, referred to by Browning, is offered in foal to Into Mischief.

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