Rougir is now available in the US and a Brant purchase is confident it will be a success
Via Bill Finley
Just three days after he and his partner Michael Tabor spent €3 million to win Group I Rougir (Fr) ({Ire} Territories) at the December Breeding Stock Sale in Arqana, owner Peter Brant had the most unwelcome surprise. Rougir’s trainer, Cedric Rossi, was arrested on December 7 as part of a horse doping investigation that also involved two other members of the Rossi family, Frederic and Charley.
That raises the question of whether he and his partners bought a horse that was successful on the racetrack, at least in part as a result of taking performance-enhancing drugs. But Brant said Monday that he is confident that Rougir and another Rossi horse he bought in Arqana, Voice of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), did not participate in the doping campaign in which the Rossi family is alleged to have been involved.
“We were assured that these horses had nothing to do with this,” Brant said. “We had all kinds of tests done on these horses. Samples were sent to Germany. They checked very well. We were led to believe that these horses were not part of the investigation, that they had examined very well. “
Rougir won the G3 Prix des Reservectors in 2020 before kicking off the 2021 campaign including a win in the October 3 G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines. She finished seventh most recently in the GI. Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The €3 million price tag is the highest price paid for any horse at any livestock stock trade in Europe in 2021.
Speak of the Devil, who is coached by Frederic Rossi, is the winner of the four listed stakes, including the last two that kicked off her career. Bought only by Brant, she went for €1,950,000.
American owner Lael Stable also bought an expensive Rossi at Arqana, bought a 2 year old Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who was also trained by Cedric Rossi and sold for 2 million euros.
Though confident his purchases were drug-free, Brant admitted he was concerned after learning of Rossis’ arrest.
“Obviously I don’t like the situation,” Brant said. “You don’t want to buy a horse and then find out a few days later that there are stings. It was not exactly what we were expecting.”
Brant said he and Coolmore’s team went back to Arqana officials after news of the arrest was announced to explore their options. He said a confidential agreement was reached in which Arqana made certain concessions to protect their investment.
“[Arqana] gave us certain assurances that whatever information about these horses would remain and if someone took them away it would change everything,” he said. “Arqana has been very responsible. They made a deal with the seller and they bridged the gap between us and we made a deal where we all felt safe. We are assured that our investment is safe.
“Did we ever say we want our money back? We say we want certain guarantees or else we want the sale to be cancelled. We also evaluated our legal position and we just decided that this was the best way to go about it. “
Brant’s two purchases went to Florida and were settled with Chad Brown. Brant said Rougir is likely to go through in GIII Beaugay S. or GII New York S. GI Just a Game S. is a possible target for Speak of the Devil, he said.
Charley Rossi’s wife, track and field athlete Jessica Marcialis, was also arrested.
Cedric Rossi is also the coach of the GI QIPCO Champion S. Sealway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}).
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This story was posted in Top News and tagged Arqana, Cedric Rossi, Chad Brown, Charley Rossi, Coolmore, Frederic Rossi, Jessica Marcialis, Lael is stable, Michael Tabor, Peter Brant.
