Campanelle (IRE) and Bellafina were just two of the three seven-figure mares sold by Eaton Sales during Monday’s “Night of the Stars” auction held at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY.
McElroy was instrumental in bringing Campanelle to the U.S. from Europe and had a big role in Kaleem Shah’s purchase of Bellafina and Donna Veloce, both of whom were purchased out of the Fasig-Tipton March 2-Year-Old Sale.
Campanelle, a million-dollar earner for Stonestreet Stables LLC, was a multiple Group 1 winner in Europe and a Grade 3 winner in Kentucky. The 4-year-old filly sold for $5 million to M. V. Magnier as a broodmare prospect.
“She was a very nice yearling,” said Magnier. “Her breeder (Ireland’s Tally-Ho Stud) has always liked her, even when she was a foal and a yearling. She is a nice filly. She is very fast. She has done great for (Stonestreet’s) Barbara Banke and we look forward to breeding her.”
Not far behind Campanelle was Bellafina, a seven-time graded stakes winner, including three Grade 1s, of more than $1.6 million for Kaleem Shah et al. Magnier was also the winning bidder here as well, going to $4 million for the 6-year-old daughter of Quality Road.
“We raced in her partnership with Kaleem,” said Magnier. “She’s a lovely filly. She’s very well bred and she’s in foal to Tiz the Law, who was an exceptional racehorse. It was just unfortunate that it was the COVID year because he probably would have won the Kentucky Derby (G1) if it was run in May.”
Rounding out Eaton’s trio of million-dollar sellers was 5-year-old Donna Veloce, who sold in foal to Tiz the Law for $1.9 million, with Jamie McCalmont, agent for Magnier, signing the ticket.
Donna Veloce won the San Ysabel S. (G3) and was runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), a race won by her second dam Cash Run. Her third dam, Shared Interest, was a Grade 1 winner and is also the dam of Grade 1 winner and sire, Forestry.