Awesome Maria sells for $4 million at the Keeneland November Sale
Grade 1 stakes winner Awesome Maria (Hip 87), in foal to Giant’s Causeway, sold for $4 million to top the early sales on opening day of Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale. So far in this session, six horses have brought seven-figure prices compared to five on day one in 2012.
Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier signed the ticket for the 6-year-old daughter of Maria’s Mon out of the Awesome Again mare Discreetly Awesome. Awesome Maria won seven graded stakes, including the 2011 Ogden Phipps Handicap (G1), Awesome Maria amassed $1,114,875 in earnings.
Moments after Awesome Maria went through the ring, graded stakes winner Broadway’s Alibi (Hip 96) brought $2.15 million from Reynolds Bell, agent for Alpha Delta Stables. The 4-year-old Vindication mare, in foal to Smart Strike, is out of the stakes-winning Seeking the Gold mare Broadway Gold. Broadway’s Alibi won the 2012 Forward Gal Stakes (G2) and Comely Stakes (G3) and earned $521,500.
Both mares were consigned by Lane’s End, as agent for the complete dispersal of E. Paul Robsham Stables LLC.
Eblouissante (Hip 130), a half-sister to Horse of the Year Zenyatta and multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Balance, drew a final bid of $2.1 million from St. George Farm’s Ian Banwell. Banwell reported that the 4-year-old filly by Bernardini, offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, will return to training with John Shirreffs. She was consigned by Winter Quarter Farm, agent for the estate of Eric N. Kronfeld.
Lady of Shamrock (Hip 171), a multiple Grade 1 winner by Scat Daddy out of Blushing Issue, by Blushing John, sold for $2 million to Wertheimer and Frere. Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for the Wertheimers, said the 4-year-old filly, offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, will retire from racing. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent, Lady of Shamrock won the 2012 American Oaks (G1) and Del Mar Oaks (G1).
John Moynihan, on behalf of Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, paid $1.6 million for Grade 1 stakes winner R Heat Lightning (Hip 16), in foal to Bernardini, just minutes into the session. During her career, R Heat Lightning recorded wins in the 2010 Spinaway (G1) and 2011 Gulfstream Oaks (G1) and Davona Dale (G2), and earnings of $952,800. Lane’s End consigned R Heat Lightning as agent for the complete dispersal of E. Paul Robsham Stables LLC.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Diamondrella (GB) (Hip 125), in foal to Distorted Humor, sold for $1.5 million to Katsumi Yoshida. The 9-year-old mare by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) out of stakes winner Tap Your Feet, by Dixieland Band, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Diamondrella won the First Lady (G1) and Just a Game (G1) in 2009 and earned $825,808 during her career.