Galileo Mare Tops Keeneland November Day One

The magical Galileo x Danehill cross provided the top lot during the first session of the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale when Secret Gesture sold for $3.5 million on Monday. A multiple Group I placed, Group II winner Secret Gesture was offered in foal to champion sire War Front in her first season at stud and was snapped up by John Ferguson. "A lovely mare, and an outstanding race filly in Europe," said John Ferguson, the principal buyer for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. "A beautiful family, so from our point of view she was a mare that could make the difference. We are delighted to have her. We thought it was about the right price for her. I suspect she will go back to Europe."

Secret Gesture raced for Qatar Racing Ltd. and her breeder, Newsells Park Stud.

"It was mixed emotions seeing her sell because she is a very rare commodity," Qatar's David Redvers said. "Ideally, we would like to keep her, but that is an awful lot of money. She is going to a great home."