COOLMORE splashed a whopping £5.1 million on Ramatuelle days after she was dramatically booted out of the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The filly was second-favourite for the $2million race in Del Mar until a PET scan on Friday revealed there were signs of bone remodelling.
French trainer Christopher Head decided against running her despite the fact she would have been his first-ever Breeders’ Cup runner.
Instead, it was announced she would head to the Fasig-Tipton November sale in Lexington, Kentucky, where she fetched the huge price tag on Monday evening.
The three-year-old has some impressive form and was last seen winning the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp three lengths ahead of Kinross.
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She also put in a huge performance in the 1,000 Guineas, being beaten into third but finishing only half a length behind the winner Elmalka.
John Magnier said: “She’s a lovely filly, and in fairness to Christopher Head, he’s done an incredible job with her.
“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.”
Neal Clarke of Bedouin Bloodstock said: “I thought the sale was great, we’re very happy, obviously the owners are very happy.
“She’s 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 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.”
Ramatuelle will head straight into retirement following her stellar season, where she will be joined by fellow Coolmore filly Opera Singer.
Aidan O’Brien’s Nassau Stakes winner was placed in the Coronation Stakes and the Irish 1,000 Guineas before going on to clinch the big one at Goodwood.
She was last seen finishing fifth behind Bluestocking in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp.
Magnier said: “We had to retire Opera Singer as well, so I think what we will do is send the two of them to Wootton Bassett next year.
“That’s what the guys want to do at the moment anyway, so I would say that is most likely what will happen.”
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