Frankel mare McKulick tops Fasig-Tipton November Sale

Yoshiyuki Ito's Grand Stud secured Grade 1 winner McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for $6 million late in Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale. Ito sat alongside bloodstock agent Emmanuel de Seroux during a prolonged bidding duel and saw off persistent challenges from a stubborn online bidder, as well as Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing.

Taken from Thoroughbred Daily News, 5th November 2024; by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, & Jill Williams

"She is a beautiful filly and she is by Frankel, the best stallion in the world," de Seroux said after signing the ticket on the racing/broodmare prospect. "She is a Grade I winner. She is fantastic."
Asked if had considered quitting at any point in the bidding, de Seroux said with a smile, "Yes. Several times. Mr. Ito made the decision. He was next to me. Several times he stopped, but then he came back."

The $6-million purchase was the second big ticket item of the sale that Grand Stud purchased from the roster of Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables after de Seroux signed for Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}) for $3.6 million earlier in the sale. Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan purchased McKulick on behalf of Klaravich Stables for 180,000gns at the 2020 Tattersalls October sale. Shipped stateside to the barn of trainer Chad Brown, the bay mare won the 2022 Gr.1 Belmont Oaks Invitational, as well as five other graded events. On the board in 15 of starts, she won seven times and earned $1,955,290. McKulick was consigned Monday by Elite Sales. "I wasn't expecting that," Elite's Brad Weisbord admitted after watching the mare sell. "The reserve was half that. All the credit goes to Seth Klarman, Chad Brown and Mike Ryan. They went over to Tattersalls and bought a beautiful filly. She won a Grade 1 and we got a chance to sell the only Grade I winner by Frankel. Chad and Seth have been our number one supporter since we started Elite. We have been waiting a long time to get a break out sale for them. We are really happy for Seth and Chad."

Further to this, the only mare offered in foal to Frankel in North America this year - MGSW Agartha (Lot 215), was sold for $1,400,000 to Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing.