Extraordinary Saxon Warrior Filly Hits Million Mark

Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Gan Teorainn (2f Saxon Warrior - Dance Troupe, by Rainbow Quest) will continue her racing career Down Under after selling for one million guineas at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale.

Offered by Boherguy Stud on behalf of owner/breeder Ennistown Stud, the Jim Bolger-trained filly was knocked down to Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland, who was acting on behalf of a racing partnership including Zhang Yuesheng.

On the progressive chesnut, Donohoe said, “She’s a big two-year-old and what she did this year is extraordinary for a big filly. She is going to be a lovely miler, maybe even a mile-and-a-quarter filly in time, and she has a lovely pedigree as well, so she should make a broodmare.”

The agent is also keen on Gan Teorainn’s sire, he added, “Saxon Warrior has the makings of becoming a top-class Classic-type sire. He had a lot of maiden winners towards the back end of the season and they are hard to win.”

Boherguy’s Clare Manning echoed Donohoe’s comments, saying, “When you see her, she looks like a three-year-old, so what she did at two is all the more impressive.”

Gan Teorainn is one of two top-level performers from the first crop of Saxon Warrior, with Victoria Road (Saxon Warrior) having captured the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The top-class son of Deep Impact is also responsible for two Group 3 winners and another two Group 2 performers.