The expectations were high at a packed-out Fasig-Tipton November Sale with two world-class mare Songbird and Tepin due to go under the hammer and they didn't disappoint.
The stage was set early on with the sale of the first crop weanlings by Coolmore's champion American Pharoah (USA).
The honour of the first to be sold was a filly out of Pulsating (Pulpit) that went to Peter O'Callaghan for $250,000.
Not long after Emmanuel de Seroux, as agent for Yoshiyuki Ito's Grand Stud, went to $1m for an American Pharoah (USA) half-sister to Grade 1 winner and promising sire Bodemeister.
The filly will be sent to Japan. Consignor Reiley McDonald of Eaton Sales was glowing in his praise for American Pharoah (USA).
"I'm going to tell you, these American
Rick Porter's superstar Songbird strode majestically into the ring and exited minutes later with a new owner Whisper Hill's Mandy Pope who was forced to go to $9.5 million.
The nine-time Grade 1 winning daughter of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) was a $400,000 Saratoga yearling and retired with a record of 13 wins and two seconds from her of 15 starts with earnings of $4.6 million.
"I really didn't think I'd have to go that high. I really had a budget, and I really didn't keep to it," Pope told The Blood-Horse. "So my accountant is not going to be very happy with me. I may not be able to go home."
The hugely popular, six-time grade/group 1 winner Tepin, carrying a positive test to top sire Curlin, was hammered down to
The daughter of Bernstein has a date with the multiple champion stallion Galileo (IRE).
"It's a lot of money, but she's an excellent racehorse," Magnier told The Blood-Horse. "She's very good looking. She was a good 2-year-old and she was good up to the age of 5. It's a lot of money but (trainer) Mark Casse did an unbelievable job with her through her career."
