Stonestreet goes to sales-topping $7.5 million for Lady Aurelia

The daughter of the late Scat Daddy fetched a sales-topping $7.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in Lexington, Ky.

She won't be going anywhere, however. Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings put in the winning bid to acquire full ownership after campaigning Lady Aurelia in partnership with George Bolton and Peter Leidel. The 4-year-old filly's coming home.

"So now we're looking forward to our next plans and hopefully a champion or two," Banke said. "That's our plan and we're sticking to it."

Plans are to be determined whether Lady Aurelia is bred to an American or European sire.

Trained by Wesley Ward, Lady Aurelia emerged back in June of 2016 when she blitzed her competition in Ascot’s Queen Mary Stakes (G1). Returning the next year in England, the original $350,000 yearling purchase then won the King’s Stand (G1) against older males.

"Going to Royal Ascot and winning the way she won is the most fun I've ever had in horse racing," Banke said. "Ever. Ever. Ever."

Remember, Stonestreet campaigned, among other greats, Curlin and Rachel Alexandra.

Lady Aurelia is the first U.S.-based horse to win a European championship known as the Cartier Awards.

Bidding opened at $2 million, quickly jumped to $5 million and paused at $7.2 million. After running down the 4-year-old filly's resume again, the hammer dropped.

"It's hard to come up with something that good," Banke said. "And in the horse business we're all about hope. We're all about the future. We're all about breeding for future champions, so if we can do that again, it'd be really awesome."