Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm went to $2 million for multiple stakes winner Justique during the Nov. 4 opening session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington.
The 5-year-old Justify mare is out of the winning Bernardini mare Grazie Mille, dam of grade 1 winner and sire Mo Town and stakes-placed Champagne Lady, both by Uncle Mo.
Lane's End, agent, consigned Justique (Hip 107) as a broodmare prospect. She retired with four wins from 19 starts and earnings of $378,415 for owner C R K Stable and trainer Cherie DeVaux.
"Obviously, a lovely pedigree and she could run," Pope said about Justique's appeal. "(Placed in) multiple graded stakes, grade 2s and grade 3s, not a grade 1. She would have been three times as much. But, just trying to get into some different families and getting some nice racemares."
Pope said the multiple graded stakes-placed mare would head to Gainesway where she would be turned out and bred next year.
"She was also dirt and turf as Justify can get," Pope said about Justique's versatility. "So, that gives us a lot of options on who to breed her to."
Justique was bred in Kentucky by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock. Gunther also bred her Triple Crown-winning sire Justify. She was picked up by Mayberry Farm as a yearling at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $725,000.
"We've just had great success here," Pope said. "Shopping at Keeneland, there is such a variety: dirt, turf, international, American ... and at all different levels that you could possibly want. There are a lot of options."
