THE sale of Rougir was not the only fairytale story of Saturday’s memorable session at Arqana.

Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Grand Glory is another whose journey started in the Deauville sale ring, this time at the October Yearling Sale. Bidding on behalf of Albert Frassetto, John d’Amato and Mike Pietrangelo, Marco Bozzi struck then for the filly at €18,000 from Haras de Bourgeauville.

Trained by Gianluca Bietolini, Grand Glory won at two before finishing third in the Group 1 Prix de Diane-French Oaks the following year behind Channel. Placed several times in group races, she recorded her first victory at that level in the Group 3 Prix de Flore. In a memorable 2021 season won the Group 3 Grand Prix de Vichy before taking the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in the summer.

Runner-up by a nose to Rougir in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opéra, and fifth in the Group 1 Japan Cup on her latest start, the Haras de Castillon-consigned five-year-old daughter of Olympic Glory was knocked down for €2,500,000 to Anne-Sophie Yoh, signing as YOHEA. She said: “She’s an incredible mare. I’ve bought her for one of my clients who has started to invest in racehorses. We haven’t decided on her next steps as yet, but we’re delighted!”

Grand Glory was joined as a stakes-winning offspring of the Daylami mare Madonna Lily this year by her half-brother Bois D’Argent. Their dam is a half-sister to the Canadian Grade 2 winner Minakshi, while Grand Glory’s third dam was a winning own-sister to the leading sire Alzao.

Wildfeder

That sale came about minutes after another of the highlights went through, the Galileo three-year-old Wildfeder, an own-sister to the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist, selling for €2,050,000. Winner at Saint-Cloud this year, Wildfeder was offered from Gestüt Ammerland to where she will return, and sold to Crispin de Moubray.

This sale came days after Wildfeder’s half-sister Waldlied realised 2,200,000gns at Newmarket. Both sales were to dissolve the partnership between Ammerland and Newsells Park Stud.

Crispin de Moubray said afterwards: “Our story with this family started a long time ago. We bought half of Waldlerche [the Group 3 winning dam of Wildfeder] when she was a yearling, and she has produced an Arc winner. This was the last chance to keep a member of this incredible family, and not only that, she is a sister to Waldgeist. The story continues and we are very happy.”