$6-Million McKulick Tops Competitive Fasig-Tipton November Sale

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, & Jill Williams

LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton November Sale failed to continue its streak of $100-million plus gross results, but did produce a day of vibrant trade from a diverse international buying bench Monday in Lexington. Twenty-five mares sold for $1 million or more during the auction, matching the figure from 2023. Nine sold for $2 million or more and four sold for $3 million or over, compared to 16 and 10, respectively, a year ago.

“It was another tremendous November sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There was very, very competitive bidding and 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. We saw Australian participation. And we saw strong American participation. It was a very broad market.”

From a catalogue of 321 head, 172 horses sold for a gross of $93,948,500. The average was $546,212 and the median was $250,000. With 64 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 27.1%. Those figures showed slight declines from the 2023 auction, which saw 154 horses sell for $101,281,000 for an average of $657,669 and a median of $295,000.

The buy-back rate a year ago was 24.9%.

“The market is certainly not easy and it's discriminating should you have what is viewed as–I'm not even going to call it a hole–but if you might have a little age on a mare or you might have a little questionable produce, if you give them a reason not to bid, they don't bid,” Browning said. “That's just the reality and that's what we've seen. It's a selective marketplace at all levels in everything we do. But when the stars line up, when you lead a beautiful one in there and she has a good race record, and she's carrying a first or second foal and she's the right type, those horses were zooming past their reserves. And other times, it was very sticky to get to the reserve.”

Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International, acting on behalf of Yoshiyuki Ito's Grand Stud, made the highest bid of Monday's sale, going to $6 million to purchase McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) from the Elite consignment. It was one of three seven-figure purchases for Narvick and was at the top of a powerful Japanese buying bench responsible for nine of the 25 million-dollar mares.

Eight of the million-dollar offerings were consigned by Hill 'n' Dale.

The November sale opened with an offering of 159 catalogued weanlings and action was slow to pick up with a number of buy-backs in the first grouping of foals.

“After about the first 15 foals, it kind of found its feet,” Browning said of the weanling market. “The trade was good, but there were no 'Wow' moments in the weanling market. It was very, very good for the quality weanlings, too.”

The first weanling by champion Flightline to be offered at auction in the U.S. was the day's top-priced foal when selling for $675,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent David Ingordo.

“The foal market was spotty,” admitted bloodstock agent Ben McElroy. “There were a lot of RNAs. But I think quality sells and obviously, the quality is selling with these top mares.”

The Fasig-Tipton November sale grossed over $100 million for the first time in its history in 2021 when 149 horses sold for $103,699,000. It reached that level again in 2022 and in 2023, but just failed to keep the streak going for a fourth year.

“Three years ago, we hit $100 million for the first time and had $100 million last year,” Browning said. “Now we have a goal for next year because we just missed the $100 million mark, which will keep us humble and hungry.”

Grand Stud Goes Back to Klaravich Well for $6-Million McKulick

Yoshiyuki Ito's Grand Stud secured Grade I winner McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for $6 million late in Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale. Ito sat alongside bloodstock agent Emmanuel de Seroux during a prolonged bidding duel and saw off persistent challenges from a stubborn online bidder, as well as Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing.

“She is a beautiful filly and she is by Frankel, the best stallion in the world,” de Seroux said after signing the ticket on the racing/broodmare prospect.

“She is a Grade I winner. She is fantastic.”

Asked if had considered quitting at any point in the bidding, de Seroux said with a smile, “Yes. Several times. Mr. Ito made the decision. He was next to me. Several times he stopped, but then he came back.”

The $6-million purchase was the second big ticket item of the sale that Grand Stud purchased from the roster of Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables after de Seroux signed for Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}) for $3.6 million earlier in the sale.

Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan purchased McKulick on behalf of Klaravich Stables for 180,000gns at the 2020 Tattersalls October sale. Shipped stateside to the barn of trainer Chad Brown, the bay mare won the 2022 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational, as well as five other graded events. On the board in 15 of starts, she won seven times and earned $1,955,290.

McKulick was consigned Monday by Elite Sales.

“I wasn't expecting that,” Elite's Brad Weisbord admitted after watching the mare sell. “The reserve was half that. All the credit goes to Seth Klarman, Chad Brown and Mike Ryan. They went over to Tattersalls and bought a beautiful filly. She won a Grade I and we got a chance to sell the only Grade I winner by Frankel. Chad and Seth have been our number one supporter since we started Elite. We have been waiting a long time to get a break out sale for them. We are really happy for Seth and Chad.”

Earlier in the boutique auction, Grand Stud went to $3.6 million to secure Surge Capacity (hip 197), also from the Elite consignment. In foal to Into Mischief, the mare is a Grade I winner herself and a half-sister to Grade I winner Ways and Means (Practical Joke).

“She was a collection item in our minds,” de Seroux said. “She's a fantastic race mare with a fantastic pedigree. She's young and she's in foal to a great horse. She has everything going for her.”

Bred and raced by Klaravich Stables and trained by Brown, Surge Capacity won last year's GI Matriarch Stakes, as well as a pair of Grade III events.

Surge Capacity followed her dam Strong Incentive (Warrior's Reward), also in foal to Into Mischief, into the sales ring Monday. Strong Incentive had been purchased by Jon Clay's Alpha Delta for $2.15 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale and was re-offered this year following the exploits of her daughter, Ways and Means, who won the GI Test S. over the summer. The mare was originally led out unsold at $2.7 million Monday, but was later listed as a $2.75-million sale to Coolmore's M V Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm.

“It's a tremendous privilege to be associated with a mare of her class and quality,” said Price Bell of Mill Ridge, which consigned Strong Incentive on behalf of Clay. “For Surge Capacity to sell for $3.6 million reinforces that this may be the most exciting pedigree in the American Stud book. Full compliments to Chad Brown and Mr. Klarman for developing it from the beginning. She has been purchased by the best in the business and we look forward to their continued success.”

Klaravich Stable purchased Strong Incentive for $200,000 at the 2014 OBS April sale. She sold again to dissolve Klarman's partnership with William Lawrence for $40,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November and she is also the dam of graded winner Highly Motivated (Into Mischief). @JessMartiniTDN

Japanese Buyers Stay Strong at Fasig-Tipton

Yoshiyuki Ito's Grand Stud purchased two of the top four lots at the Fasig-Tipton November sale Monday, going to a sale-topping $6 million to secure McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and $3.6 million for Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}). The pair of seven-figure mares were at the top of a string of high-priced mares to sell to Japanese interests at the auction.

Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm purchased five mares, led by Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) for $2.8 million and Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) for $1.5 million. Shadai Farm purchased four mares, led by a pair of seven-figure purchases: the $1.75-million Flying Connection (Nyquist) and the $1.1-million Daddysruby (Frac Daddy).

Japan's Lake Villa Farm purchased the first mare through the ring Monday, Neecie Marie (Cross Traffic), for $1 million.

Ramatuelle | Fasig-Tipton

From Breeders' Cup Scratch to $5.1-Million Filly

Group 1 winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle (Justify) has had an eventful 30 days. After romping over older males in the G1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp Oct. 6, she was supplemented to Fasig-Tipton's 'Night of the Stars' and routed to the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile as one of Europe's stronger hopes. However, the day prior to the Breeders' Cup, a PET scan showed bone remodeling, forcing a scratch.

She looked like a million bucks in the sales ring, or more appropriately, like $5.1 million. Her connections didn't get a chance at a Breeders' Cup trophy, but they did get a hefty consolation prize after she sold to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier late Monday night.

Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock as Hip 310, the 3-year-old filly was trained by Christopher Head for a large partnership and is out of GSW Raven's Lady (GB) (Raven's Pass).

“She's a lovely filly and in fairness to Christopher Head, he's done an incredible job with her,” said Magnier.

Ramatuelle had been through the ring once previously, when selling for €100,000 as a yearling at the Arqana August sale. Magnier tipped his hat to Arthur Hoyeau, who had purchased her as agent for MyRacehorse, Monceaux, Hollymount Stud, and partners.

“Arthur Hoyeau spotted her as a yearling and everybody else didn't,” said Magnier. “She's a very good filly and well done to them.”

In addition to her Prix de la Foret, Ramatuelle captured the G2 Prix Robert Papin and the G3 Prix du Bois Longines Fonds Europeen de L'elevage, as well as placing in three additional Group 1s.

“We'll send her to [exceptional Coolmore sire] Wootton Bassett next. That's what the guys want to do at the moment anyway, so that's most likely what will happen.”–@JillWilliamsTDN

'Marvelous' Moira sells for $4.3M at Fasig-Tipton

The racing world is chocked full of epic highs and lows and Donato Lanni has surely seen plenty of both. Always sure to be front and center buying many of the nation's elite bloodstock, Lanni latest masterpiece is none other than a Canadian bred that was purchased for what now seems like a bargain-basement $150,000 as a yearling.

Now four years removed from that fateful day in September, the 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year Moira (Ghostzapper), a well-time winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare at Del Mar last weekend, capped what started off as a 'little Canadian experiment' to reel in a $4.3 million final bid from Bayles, bidding online, at the tail-end of the Fasig-Tipton November Sale Monday.

“It was just time to move on and let her go,” said Lanni, briefly overcome with the raw emotion of the moment. “She is a special filly. She brought us a lot of joy.”

Offered as Hip 293 and sold as a racing or broodmare prospect, the Canadian-bred mare was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa acting as agent on behalf of the partnership of Madaket Stables, SF Racing LLC in addition to X-Men Racing, a collection of Lanni's friends and family that the filly was initially purchased for at Keeneland in 2020.

“We went in thinking she would be a little Canadian experiment, never thinking that she would take us on a wild ride,” said Lanni.

“She is owned by some of my closest friends and family and she gave us a hell of an experience that we'll never forget.”

Bred by Frank Stronach's famed Adena Springs, the 5-year-old is out of MSW and GSP Devine Aida (Unbridled's Song), also the dam of SW Jungle Cry (Animal Kingdom).

Lanni added, “She was bred by the great Frank Stronach. Adena Springs is such a great breeding operation.”

“She was a COVID year yearling, so I think we got lucky buying her at the price we got her for because she was a beautiful filly.”

Moira | Fasig-Tipton

Sent to Kevin Attard at two, Moira, named after the quirky character Moira Rose on the hit show Schitt's Creek, won Woodbine's Princess Elizabeth in her career debut before finishing runner-up in the GIII Mazarine. At three, she won three of five starts, highlighted by runaway score in the Woodbine Oaks and the Queen's Plate, the first leg of Canada's Triple Crown. Runner up in the GI E.P. Taylor, the bay rounded out the season with a fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland, earning Canada's Sovereign Award as the Champion 3-year-old Filly in addition to her Horse of the Year honors.

While her 4-year-old year was her least prolific, winning a single race in six starts, she did in fact finish runner up in a trio of Woodbine stakes before taking the GII Canadian. Third behind the 2023 Horse of the Year Fev Rover (Ire) while taking another run at the E.P. Taylor, she filled the same spot in the 10-furlong Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita.

Run through Fasig's ring in 2023, she realized a $3 million final bid, however, was ultimately retained by her owners. That proved to be a very wise decision.

“Last year, I took a chance and bought her back because I felt she had another year in her,” he admitted. “We got lucky. It doesn't always work out that way.”

A close-up second in her 5-year-old bow in the GI Diana in July, she turned the tables on Fev Rover in the GII Beverly D at Colonial this summer before finishing second in her penultimate start in the E.P. Taylor. Sent off at 5-1 for her career finale on last weekend's Breeders' Cup card, she came from just off the pace to triumph by a half-length over Cinderella's Dream and Didia.

“I am happy for Kevin and for everyone involved,” he said. “She is a horse of a lifetime.”

For a man who has purchased so many top-level horses that have competed at the highest level throughout the continent, he was pragmatic when asked whether the sale was bittersweet.

“It's a sad day but it's good for her. She needs to move on and be a broodmare,” he concluded as an elated Tom Ryan from SF Racing walked up and engulfed Lanni in a bear hug for the ages.

“This is my man!” Ryan said.

Clearly, Lanni fills that bill for a great many in the industry.–@CbossTDN

Adare Manor to Japan After Michael Lund Petersen Does It Again

One of the more anticipated offerings of the evening was the recently retired broodmare prospect Adare Manor (Uncle Mo). Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent as Hip 214, she'll be headed to Japan after Shingo Hashimoto bought the multiple Grade I winner from Bob Baffert's barn for $2.8 million for Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm.

“She looked gorgeous,” said Hashimoto immediately after signing the ticket. “I thought she was one of the best fillies in the market this time, so we're very excited. We're going to take her back to Japan.”

When asked if Adare Manor would remain in Kentucky to be bred before shipping to Japan, he added, “We haven't decided that yet. We'll see how it goes after we buy everything.”

Before the night was done, Hashimoto and Yoshida also bought GI American Oaks winner Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) (Hip 179) for $1.5 million and an additional three mares for total receipts of $6,350,000.

It was the third consecutive year Michael Lund Petersen, who campaigned Adare Manor, sold a multi-million dollar offering and Grade I winner at Fasig-TIpton's 'Night of the Stars' Sale. Last year, he parted with Faiza (Girvin) for $4 million and the year prior, it was champion Gamine (Into Mischief) for $7 million.–@JillWilliamsTDN

Spendthrift Extends to $2.8M for daughter of Into Mischief

With Fasig-Tipton's November Sale already in full swing, Into Mischief's Denim and Pearls brought $2.8 million from Spendthrift Farm, who stands the powerhouse sire.

Victorious in the GII Beaumont Stakes, the 3-year-old, who was bred by Town & Country Horse Farms, is out of Majestic Presence (Majestic Warrior), making her a full-sister to GI Santa Anita Handicap hero Newgate. Offered as Hip 240, the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

“She is a great looking filly,” said Spendthrift's Ned Toffey, who was bidding from the back of the main pavilion. “She is talented, great family and we obviously love the sire.”

He added, “What's not to like. She will be a nice addition to the broodmare band.”

The mare represented the sole purchase by Spendthrift Monday.

“The competition has been strong,” he said when asked about Monday's actiity. “We have been outbid on two so far. But for this caliber mare, the market has been very strong.”

When asked who the mare might visit at Spendthrift, he said,    “We're not sure what the plan is right now but we have lots of options.”

Outlining the game plan for this week, he concluded, “We'll sell a few mares [this week] and try to add a few to the top of our broodmare band. She's a really nice filly that could go to several of our stallions.”–@CbossTDN

Lyon Looks to Replenish at FTNOV Monday

Summer Wind's Jane Lyon has assembled a broodmare band that many in the breeding industry would give their right arm for. Already responsible for producing the likes of Horse of the Year and the highly in-demand sire Flightline, Lyon arrived at Fasig-Tipton looking to add a mare or two to her broodmare band.

Early in the broodmare session, Lyon extended to $2.6 million for Hip 177, Private Mission (Into Mischief), in foal to stalwart Curlin.

“I hoped I wouldn't have to spend that much. We never do. But Bobby [Spalding] was in favor of her too. He'll tell me real quick if I like one and he doesn't,” she added with a laugh.

Out of the multiple graded stakes-winning mare Private Gift (Unbridled), herself a $2.3 million FTKNOV purchase in 2008, the 6-year-old mare is a half-sister to MSW Secret Someone (A.P. Indy) in addition to Gift List (Bernardini), the dam of GI Alabama Stakes heroine Dunbar Road (Quality Road). Private Mission realized $750,000 at Fasig-Tiptin Saratoga Sale in 2019.

This represents the family of Grade I winner Secret Status (A.P. Indy).

“A lot of my really good mares are aging out,” explained Lyon. “For instance, I have retired Littleprincessemma [dam of Triple crown winner American Pharoah and GISW Chasing Yesterday who Lyon purchased for $2.1 million at this venue in 2014] and some of my other mares are getting some age on them. I came looking for a horses with a lot of pedigree, that wasn't too old and preferably in foal.”

According to Lyon, her latest acquisition will be bred to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero.

“The ride with Flightline was a dream and that I never expected and will never be repeated in my lifetime. So I am looking for good mares to go to him too,” she said. “In my broodmare band, I have a lot of Tapit mares and Tapit young mares and obviously they can't go to him. So I have to find some others for him.”

Amo Buying Spree Continues with $2.55M Eda

Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing continued its worldwide buying spree with a pair of seven-figure acquisitions at Fasig-Tipton Monday. The Amo team went to $2.55 million to purchase Grade I winner Eda (Munnings) (hip 244), in foal to Justify, from the Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consignment and purchased Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) (hip 215), in foal to Frankel (GB), for $1.4 million from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment.

Eda, purchased by Charles and Susan Chu's Baoma Corp. for $550,000 at the 2021 OBS March sale, won that year's GI Starlet Stakes and added three additional graded victories to her career before being bred to Justify last year.

“She was a Grade I-winning 2-year-old with a tremendous physical and she's in foal to a stallion who is going from strength to strength,” bloodstock agent Ben McElroy said after signing the ticket on the mare. “She fits the bill for a good long-term investment for Amo.”

As for plans for Eda, McElroy added, “We are all going to sit down as a team and decide what the plans for her are. She will stay in the U.S. and we will figure out who she is going to go to next year. We think she is going to have a lot of options.”

While Eda will be staying in the U.S., McElroy said Agartha, a three-time group winner in Ireland, will be heading back to Europe.

“Kia has some horses racing at the moment and he obviously has some stallions in Europe,” McElroy said. “The plan is, as we go along, we will have some nice horses to retire here. I think getting our foot in the door with mares like this is good to have so they are already in the system.”

Rounding out a trio of purchases by Amo Racing Monday was Kaufymaker (Jimmy Creed) (hip 277) who was purchased for $300,000 from the Paramount Sales consignment.

Seeing action at the yearling sales, Amo Racing purchased 17 head for over 19.5-million guineas during Book 1 at the Tattersalls October sale and purchased eight head for $5,710,000 at the Keeneland September sale. @JessMartiniTDN

HIP 26 – Flightline colt | Fasig-Tipton

'Can't Be Happier with What We're Getting' Ingordo Strikes for $675k Flightline Colt

The first weanling by champion Flightline (hip 26) to be offered at auction in the U.S. sold for $675,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent David Ingordo Monday at Fasig-Tipton. The colt, who was consigned by Lane's End, was bred by Jan Vandebos's Ran Jan Racing and is the first foal out of Star of India (Medaglia d'Oro). That mare is a daughter of Up (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was purchased by Vandebos for $2.2 million at the 2015 Keeneland January sale.

“I got to watch that horse grow up on the [Lane's End] farm,” Ingordo said of the weanling. “I really liked him. We really like the stallion. We believe in Flightline. So when there is a good one, we are going to try to buy them. And that horse fit what we wanted.”

Ingordo is a bloodstock advisor at Lane's End, which stands 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Flightline.

“I bought him for a partnership I put together,” Ingordo said of Monday's purchase. “We are going to buy a number of them, if we can, and some of them might come back next year [to resell] and some may go racing.”

Flightline had three weanlings go through the sales ring in Japan earlier this year for an average of $974,057, with a top price of $1,305,651. A share in the stallion sold for $2.5 million to top Keeneland's inaugural Championship Sale last week at Del Mar.

“They all look like him,” Ingordo said of Flightline's first foals. “I am obviously partial to him. But they are a uniform bunch, with plenty of size, scope, and stretch. I don't think they will be 4 1/2-furlong horses, but they have these big hind ends. Like that horse looks like he will have some get up and go, as do a lot of them. All in all, I couldn't be happier with what we are getting. If we didn't like them, we wouldn't be buying them.” @JessMartiniTDN

Logan Saratoga Scheming with Justify Colt

Darby Dan Farm's Renee Logan picked up a Justify colt from the Eaton Sales consignment in the name of her Logan Bloodstock for $550,000 about mid-way through the weanling session Monday afternoon. “He'll go to Saratoga,” she said, indicating Fasig-Tipton's Select Yearling Sale slated for next August.

“It's for a small group of people that have been clients of the farm for a long time,” continued Logan. “He's just a lovely colt. He's got stretch and scope, he's got the right sire, a nice pedigree, a beautiful neck and shoulder. It was just everything about him; he's a really, really a nice horse.”

The Feb. 15-foaled colt is out of unraced Black Valentine (Cindago), herself a half to MGISW Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet), and is a half-brother to SW Rod's Valentine (Vronsky) and two other stakes performers. Bred by Athens Woods, Galtmore Bloodstock, Petaluma Bloodstock, and Kim Valerio in Kentucky, Hip 77 was an $180,000 in utero purchase by St. Ventures at the 2023 Keeneland November sale.

“We knew we were going to have to pay for him. Actually, we went a bit over budget,” Logan said with a smile, “but we're okay.”–@JillWilliamsTDN