The Ralph Beckett-trained Group 1 Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me became the third-highest priced filly or mare sold at the December Mares Sale when Amo Racing went to 4,800,000gns to secure the Classic winner on Tuesday evening.
Bidding came from all around the ring, but as so often has been the case at Park Paddocks in recent months, no-one was going to deny Kia Joorabchian the chance to add a Classic-winning mare to his ever-growing breeding operation at Amo Racing.
American trainer Will Walden and Graham Smith-Bernal of Newsells Park Stud, who were part-owners of the filly alongside Anthony Ramsden's Valmont operation, did their best to get the better of Kia Joorabchian, but as the mark reached 4,800,000gns and auctioneer Alastair Pim shouted towards Joorabchian: "The bromance is still alive!" The gavel was dropped.
"We are trying to do the right thing, we have to compete, and we have been trying to compete many years and have probably burnt so much cash by trying to do it, by trying to pick the next one – why try to pick the next one when you have the one here?" said Joorabchian.
"We were getting to a point that we were thinking she was overpriced but she could be very cheap in the long run. At least we know she is proven, she won the Irish Oaks amazingly, and I am so happy because the guys that owned her Valmont are dear friends of mine, we partnerships together with in other horses."
You Got To Me made a winning debut towards the back end of her juvenile season before showing significant progress at three, landing the Lingfield Oaks Trial on her seasonal reappearance prior to finishing fourth in the Epsom Oaks and the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The daughter of Nathaniel enjoyed her finest day in the sun to date when Hector Crouch produced her expertly between rivals to get the better of Content and Purple Lily in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh. You Got To Me backed her Classic triumph up by finishing runner-up to Content in the Yorkshire Oaks a month later, but she failed to beat a rival home when stepped up to one-mile six-and-a-half furlongs in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster in September.
On the prospect of her staying in training, he commented: "If she stays in training obviously Ralph Beckett wants her back and I said as long as he does not injure her, he can have her back! I am thinking about plans.
"If she stays in training, she is not a horse to take away from her current trainer, and Ralph has done a wonderful job with her."
You Got To Me was a Tattersalls December Foal in 2021 when bought by BBA Ireland for 62,000gns and then a Book 2 yearling when purchased by Alex Elliott, who is a key cog in the AMO Racing operation, for 200,000gns.
The George Boughey-trained Believing, who has finished in the first four in six Group 1 races, will remain in training with the Saffron House Stables-based handler after being bought by MV Magnier for 3,000,000gns on day two of the Sceptre Session.
Owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing – Jane Addams, the daughter of Mehmas landed the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh in July before going on to place in King George Qatar Stakes, the Nunthorpe Stakes, Flying Five Stakes and Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp on Arc weekend.
"It is unbelievable, there was some chat before that she might make more than Cachet [2,200,000gns, 2023] and I thought that was ridiculous," Harry Herbert, syndicate manager for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing told Tattersalls. "But hearing from Jake [Warren] and the stud before that all the key people were on her, there can be so many disappointments in the ring, both buying and selling, but when it happens – the journey her 20 share owners have enjoyed from a breeze up filly of 115,000gns to a three million here.
"She is staying with George, which is fantastic and is a wonderful bonus. It is so incredible to have a filly looking like that, she has an incredible will to win, consistent, with speed, she is dream down the road. We look forward to following her future career."
Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown looked to be going toe-to-toe with an online bidder, but once the price reached 2,600,000gns, MV Magnier entered the fray and with a final bid of 3,000,000gns, the gavel dropped.
"Both Ryan Moore and George Boughey were pretty keen to keep going with her," said Magnier. "So, we're going to send her back to George, who has done a great job with her.
"We're going to aim at Dubai. Then she'll be covered by City Of Troy. She goes back to a very good family so let's hope she goes well in the spring before we go ahead and cover her with City Of Troy."
Boughey said: "I had a suspicion that she could make what she did, but it is great for Highclere to have such good fillies to race, and the shareholders are a great group of owners who have travelled around the world with her. It is a perfect ending for them and us.
"We have had a few horses lately for Coolmore connections and we are delighted to have a filly to race at a high level for such a great operation. She will be back with us in her own stable, she will have a break now and then we will sit down and make a plan."
