Royally bred Changing Skies, a graded stakes-winning daughter of Sadler's Wells, brought the second highest price during the Nov. 7 session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale when she fetched $4.2 million from Nicolas de Watrigant's France-based Mandore International Agency.
Consigned by John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, she is in foal to Street Cry.
Benoit Jeffory of Mandore signed the ticket for Irish-bred Changing Skies, who was bought on behalf of an undisclosed client.
"She's by Sadler's Wells, a top broodmare sire and she was also good performer herself—she's a graded stakes winner and was grade I-placed," said Jeffory of the 7-year-old mare. Changing Skies captured the 2010 The Very One (gr. IIIT) and the 2011 La Prevoyante Handicap (gr. IIIT). She also placed in four graded stakes, including the 2010 Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT).
Changing Skies was bred by the Sangster Family's Swettenham Stud, which raced her throughout her career. After starting her career in Europe, she raced in the U.S. for trainer Bill Mott in late 2009-2011. She retired from racing with a record of 5-6-3 from 19 starts, for earnings of $438,949.
Out of the group III-winning Silver Hawk mare Magnificent Style, Changing Skies is a half or full sister to English champions Nathaniel (by Galileo) and Playful Act, plus group I winner Great Heavens (by Galileo), winner of this year's Darley Irish Oaks (Ire-I).
Playful Act brought a world-record price for a broodmare when she fetched $10.5 million at the 2007 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
"(Changing Skies) has a beautiful pedigree, and she's very attractive," said Jeffory. "Also, she's in foal to Street Cry, who is a very good sire. It's hard to value these kinds of mares, but we thought it was a good price for her. Hopefully now she'll produce some good runners...we'll hope for the best."
Mandore has now bought four seven-figure horses at the Keeneland November sale, including the $2.8-million Dynaformer mare Harmonious, from Lane's End, agent for Pam and Martin Wygod and Emily Wygod, during the first session of the sale Nov. 6.