Godolphin gave Ashford Stud's Triple Crown winner Justify his first 2024 seven-figure yearling at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale Aug. 6, going to $1 million for a colt out of stakes producer Dolce Lemone.
Godolphin secured the colt consigned as Hip 174 via phone bidding. Hunter Valley Farm consigned the colt bred on a foal share between Don Alberto and the Justify Syndicate.
"Justify is the man of the hour, so we were grateful to have this colt up here," said Reed Ringler, chief operating officer of Don Alberto's American operations. "Fergus Galvin and Adrian Regan at Hunter Valley are a great team, and we appreciate all their hard work. This colt was a great mover who has gotten better every day at the farm, and we are thrilled that he goes to Godolphin."
Dolce Lemone is the dam of six foals of racing age, including the Scat Daddy mare Dolce Lili, a stakes winner and earner of $253,125. Don Alberto purchased Dolce Lemone for $190,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale just a month after the Chilean conglomerate announced its American presence with the purchase of the major Central Kentucky farm Vinery.
Dolce Lemone is a half to 2011 Canadian broodmare of the year Noble Strike (Smart Strike), dam of Inglorious (Hennessy), who was 2011 champion 3-year-old filly in Canada after winning the Queen's Plate and Woodbine Oaks, and grade 3 winner and 2012 Prince of Wales Stakes winner Dixie Strike (Dixie Union).
Hunter Valley's Regan said Hip 174 sported a strong combination of sire power and athleticism.
"At the moment, Justify is probably viewed as the best stallion in the world," Regan said. "That fellow was extremely racy-looking, very athletic, and it's not a shock these days that Godolphin wants to buy Justifys with the success they've had with them.
"I'm very grateful for Godolphin for buying him and wish them the best of luck. We have to thank all the team at Don Alberto for producing him the way they did. He looked fantastic."
Don Alberto brought five yearlings to the Saratoga Sale and sold four for an average price of $1,225,000. At the Aug. 5 first session, the farm had two yearlings sell for seven figures within minutes of each other.
Ringler said it was an incredible result and a testament to what Don Alberto's Liliana Solari, her son Carlos Heller, and the entire Kentucky team have built.
"It was a tremendous sale, and we were blessed to be here," Ringler said.
