(Reuters) – A one-year-old filly has been sold at auction for a world record 5.25 million pounds ($8.36 million).
The unnamed filly is the daughter of Galileo, the world’s most sought-after stallion who also sired Frankel, who claimed a perfect winning record in 14 races.
The horse was sold for a world-record fee for a year-old filly and it was the highest figure paid at a European auction.
It was brought by Mandore International for Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani’s Al Shaqab Racing, which is owned by the Qatari royal family.
“She is a magnificent specimen,” Mandore’s Nicolas de Watrigant told the Tattersall’s website (www.tattersalls.com).
“We bought her sister last year and we think she could be special, we didn’t want to miss this one – let’s hope she is the next Treve.
“We didn’t expect to pay that sort of price, but Al Shaqab Racing is keen to invest. She goes into training with Monsieur (Andre) Fabre.”
The horse went for 5,000,000 guineas, which horses are traditionally traded in, with one guinea worth around 1.05 pounds.
Sheikh Joaan won the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s richest horse race, with Treve four days ago.
($1 = 0.6277 British pounds)