The last 10 hips offered during Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale included one of its brightest stars when group1 winner Ramatuelle (Hip 310) sold for $5.1 million to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier.
The 3-year-old daughter of Justify , who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky, became a group1 winner when she captured the Prix de la Foret (G1T) at Longchamp Oct. 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."
Magnier said the plan is to send her to Wootton Bassettnext 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 2-year-old group winners, he set a record of group 1 winners. He's very exciting."
Hip 310 Ramatuelle consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, agent, and purchased by M. V. Magnier with Coolmore.
The unbeaten French champion 2-year-old stands at Coolmore in Ireland for a fee of €200,000 (US$217,518, €1=$1.09). His progeny have not just done well at the racetrack, but also in the sales ring. Wootton Bassett is the sire of the highest-priced colt in European sales history at 4,300,000gns (US$5,891,000, 1 guinea=US$1.37). The colt out of the Galileo mare Park Bloom sold to Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.
"I thought the sale was great, we're very happy, obviously the owners are very happy," said Neal Clarke of Bedouin Bloodstock. "She's (Ramatuelle) 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's just pure class and we're so happy.
"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."
