Five mares make over a million euros with historic top price for ROUGIR on the first day of the Vente d’Elevage

The last major sale of the year in Deauville, the Vente d’Elevage began on Saturday with Part 1 of the catalogue. Testifying to the exceptional quality of the selection of mares, fillies and foals presented to the buyers, many of the figures recorded reached unprecedented levels. Of the 211 lots that went through the ring, 73% were sold for a record average price of €209,201, generating an historic turnover of €32,217,000.

The exceptional ROUGIR makes history

Prix de l’Opéra (Gr.1) winner ROUGIR (lot 160) went through the ring for a third time at Deauville today. Sold as a foal by Haras du Haut-Gué to Guy Petit at this sale, she then went through the August Yearling Sale where Françoise Dupuis, bidding on behalf of Haras de la Gousserie, whose colours she has worn throughout her career, bought her from Haras de l’Hotellerie.

Added as a Wild Card to the catalogue, the daughter of Territories began her juvenile career with two wins and a third place in the Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr.1) before taking the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr.3) the same year. Triumphant in the Prix de l’Opéra (Gr.1) this season, the exceptional filly was subject to fierce competition around the ring.

It was Michel Zerolo (Oceanic Bloodstock), going up notably against Nicolas Bertran de Balanda (NBB Racing) and David Redvers, who had the final say at €3 million for the filly consigned by Sumbe, setting the record for the highest price ever reached in the Arqana sales ring.  

“I’ve bought her for a partnership between White Birch Farm and Coolmore,” said Michel Zerolo. “She’s an exceptional filly.”

Following the sale, Pauline Chehboub (Haras de la Gousserie) commented, “She’s a filly that has given us so much, and while it’s the end of a chapter for us, it continues elsewhere. We bought her as a yearling and she’s given us so much pleasure. She’s the best filly that we’ve ever had. She is just exceptional, and we saw that again this evening.”

€2,5 million for Prix Jean Romanet heroine GRAND GLORY

The fairytale story of GRAND GLORY (lot 192) and her connections also began at Deauville, this time at the October Yearling Sale. Bidding on behalf of Albert Frassetto, John d’Amato and Mike Pietrangelo, Marco Bozzi struck for the filly for just €18,000 from Haras de Bourgeauville. 

Trained by Gianluca Bietolini, she won at two before taking third in the Prix de Diane (Gr.1) the following year behind the very talented CHANNEL. Placed in several Group races, she recorded her first victory at that level in the Prix de Flore (Gr.3). She then took the Grand Prix de Vichy (Gr.3) before the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr.1) at Deauville this summer. She finished runner-up by a nose to the excellent ROUGIR in the Prix de l’Opéra (Gr.1) and most recently took fifth in the Japan Cup (Gr.1). 

Consigned by Haras de Castillon, the daughter of Olympic Glory was knocked down for €2,5 million to Anne-Sophie Yoh (YOHEA). She said, “She’s an incredible mare. I’ve bought her for one of my clientswho has started to invest in racehorses. We haven’t decided onher next steps as yet, but we’re delighted!”