Grand Luxe (CAN)
May 8, 1974 – c. 1998
Sir Ivor (USA) x Fanfreluche (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 4-g
"GENETIC GEM"
May 8, 1974 – c. 1998
Sir Ivor (USA) x Fanfreluche (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 4-g
"GENETIC GEM"
Grand Luxe had enough talent to be a stakes winner but was far from the best runner produced by 1970 Canadian Horse of the Year and 1978 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Fanfreluche. In the paddocks, it was a different story as she was the most important broodmare among Fanfreluche’s daughters. Her family includes champion sires in Australia and Argentina and continues to breed on in the female line, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere.
Race record
25 starts, 10 wins, 2 seconds, 5 thirds, US$114,349
1977:
1978:
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1977, 15 pounds below champion What a Summer.
Rated at 111 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1977, 10 pounds below the highest-rated filly, Northernette.
Rated at 114 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1978, 14 pounds below champion Waya.
As an individual
Described as “extraordinarily beautiful” by bloodstock expert John Sparkman, Grand Luxe was a well-balanced chestnut mare with exceptionally fluent action.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Grand Luxe produced 16 named foals, of which 10 started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Grand Luxe was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque. She was trained by John “Yonnie” Starr. After her 3-year-old season, she was sold to Allen & Brant and was trained by William Proctor. She produced her first two foals for Claiborne Farm and the next five for the partnership of Claiborne Farm and Peter Brant. In 1986, she sold for US$235,000 at the Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Believe It. After producing one foal for Bioworld Trading Company, she went back through the ring at the 1987 Keeneland November sale, in foal to Caro, and sold for US$150,000 to the partnership of McComb, Jones, and Robert S. Folsom, which bred five foals from her before putting her back up for auction at the 1993 Keeneland November sale, where she brought US$55,000 while in foal to Miswaki. For her new owners, John T. L. Jones Jr. and H. Smoot Fahlgren, she produced two foals. Her last foal, the 1998 Salt Lake filly Luxury on the Lake, was produced for Grate Dolin Pty. Ltd., Peleus Pty. Ltd., and Peter R. Bradley III.
Pedigree notes
Grand Luxe is inbred 4x5 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud (a champion sire and broodmare sire in the United States) and 5x4 to unbeaten Nearco (a two-time leader of the English/Irish general sire list). She is a half sister to two-time Canadian Horse of the Year L'Enjoleur (by Buckpasser), 1978 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Medaille d'Or (by Secretariat) and 1981 Breeders' Futurity (USA-G2) winner D'Accord (by Secretariat). She is also a half sister to three-time Canadian champion La Voyageuse (by Tentam), dam of Grade 3 winner Time Bandit (by Time for a Change) and stakes winner Innovative (by Time for a Change); second dam of 1998 English champion 2-year-old filly Bint Allayl, Australian Group 2 winner French Braids, and Group 3 winners Kheleyf and Laa Rayb; and third dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Emeral Flight. In addition, Grand Luxe is a half sister to the important producers L'On Vite (by Secretariat), L'Extravagante (by Le Fabuleux), Slew and Easy (by Slew o' Gold), and La Pepite (by Mr. Prospector).
The dam of Grand Luxe, Fanfreluche, is a full sister to stakes winner Barachois and to Night Shift, a successful sire in Europe. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Coco La Terreur (by Northern Dancer's sire Nearctic) and to stakes-placed Somfas (by What a Pleasure), dam of three Group stakes winners in Europe. Fanfreluche's dam Ciboulette (by Chop Chop) is a stakes winner and a half sister to 1966 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Cool Reception (by Nearctic) and stakes winner Breezy Answer (by Bull Page; dam of Arctic Blizzard, a top Canadian juvenile of 1967).
Last updated: September 2, 2024
Race record
25 starts, 10 wins, 2 seconds, 5 thirds, US$114,349
1977:
- Won Fury Stakes (first division) (CAN, 7FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Bonnie Miss Stakes (USA, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Hibiscus Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
1978:
- Won La Merced Stakes (USA, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Convenience Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Hawthorne Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Also set a new track record of 1:43-4/5 for 8.5FD at Calder
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1977, 15 pounds below champion What a Summer.
Rated at 111 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1977, 10 pounds below the highest-rated filly, Northernette.
Rated at 114 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1978, 14 pounds below champion Waya.
As an individual
Described as “extraordinarily beautiful” by bloodstock expert John Sparkman, Grand Luxe was a well-balanced chestnut mare with exceptionally fluent action.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Grand Luxe produced 16 named foals, of which 10 started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Islands (1981, by Forli) won three of her 14 starts. She is the dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Fit to Lead (by Fit to Fight), the second dam of Australian Group 2 winner Krupt and 2015 Argentine Broodmare of the Year Historia, and the third dam of 2016 Argentine Horse of the Year Hi Happy, 2011 Premio Dos Mil Guineas (CHI-G1) winner Hinz, 2016 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (ARG-G1) winner Hispanidad, Argentine Group 2 winner Hiper Happy, and Grade 3 winner Honey Hues.
- Salvora (1982, by Spectacular Bid) won one of eight starts. She is the dam of 1994 Yellow Ribbon Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Aube Indienne (by Bluebird) and French Group 3 winner Mare Nostrum (by Caerleon) and the second dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Erupt and multiple Group 3 winner Common World. She is also the third dam of 2016 Empire Rose Stakes (AUS-G1) winner I Am a Star; 2012 Tattersall’s Tiara Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Pear Tart; 2014 Czech champion 2-year-old male Sirius Shine; Group 2 winners Tiamo Grace, Laurenciano, and Suck Out Queen; and multiple Group 3 winner Local Time.
- Rolls (1984, by Mr. Prospector) never raced but is the dam of 1995 Golden Slipper Stakes (AUS-G1) winner and 2006/2007 Australian champion sire Flying Spur (by Danehill), the second dam of 1996 VATC Vichealth Cup (AUS-G1) winner and two-time Australian champion sire Encosta de Lago and Australian Group 2 winner Ballybleue, and the third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Think Bleue.
- Smackover Creek (1985, by Mr. Prospector) won the 1989 Fifth Season Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Oaklawn Park. Exported to Japan, he sired only two stakes winners from 304 named foals of racing age.
- Lode (1986, by Mr. Prospector) ran second in the 1989 Oceanside Handicap (a restricted race) and third in that year’s Del Mar Derby Handicap (USA-G2). He was the Argentine champion sire of 2005 and has been an important broodmare sire in that country.
- Nice Dancing (1990, by Bering) was unplaced in two starts. She is the dam of Australian Group 3 winner Musidora (by Rock of Gibraltar) and the second dam of Australian Group 3 winners Sacred Eye and Tulip.
Connections
Grand Luxe was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque. She was trained by John “Yonnie” Starr. After her 3-year-old season, she was sold to Allen & Brant and was trained by William Proctor. She produced her first two foals for Claiborne Farm and the next five for the partnership of Claiborne Farm and Peter Brant. In 1986, she sold for US$235,000 at the Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Believe It. After producing one foal for Bioworld Trading Company, she went back through the ring at the 1987 Keeneland November sale, in foal to Caro, and sold for US$150,000 to the partnership of McComb, Jones, and Robert S. Folsom, which bred five foals from her before putting her back up for auction at the 1993 Keeneland November sale, where she brought US$55,000 while in foal to Miswaki. For her new owners, John T. L. Jones Jr. and H. Smoot Fahlgren, she produced two foals. Her last foal, the 1998 Salt Lake filly Luxury on the Lake, was produced for Grate Dolin Pty. Ltd., Peleus Pty. Ltd., and Peter R. Bradley III.
Pedigree notes
Grand Luxe is inbred 4x5 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud (a champion sire and broodmare sire in the United States) and 5x4 to unbeaten Nearco (a two-time leader of the English/Irish general sire list). She is a half sister to two-time Canadian Horse of the Year L'Enjoleur (by Buckpasser), 1978 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Medaille d'Or (by Secretariat) and 1981 Breeders' Futurity (USA-G2) winner D'Accord (by Secretariat). She is also a half sister to three-time Canadian champion La Voyageuse (by Tentam), dam of Grade 3 winner Time Bandit (by Time for a Change) and stakes winner Innovative (by Time for a Change); second dam of 1998 English champion 2-year-old filly Bint Allayl, Australian Group 2 winner French Braids, and Group 3 winners Kheleyf and Laa Rayb; and third dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Emeral Flight. In addition, Grand Luxe is a half sister to the important producers L'On Vite (by Secretariat), L'Extravagante (by Le Fabuleux), Slew and Easy (by Slew o' Gold), and La Pepite (by Mr. Prospector).
The dam of Grand Luxe, Fanfreluche, is a full sister to stakes winner Barachois and to Night Shift, a successful sire in Europe. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Coco La Terreur (by Northern Dancer's sire Nearctic) and to stakes-placed Somfas (by What a Pleasure), dam of three Group stakes winners in Europe. Fanfreluche's dam Ciboulette (by Chop Chop) is a stakes winner and a half sister to 1966 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Cool Reception (by Nearctic) and stakes winner Breezy Answer (by Bull Page; dam of Arctic Blizzard, a top Canadian juvenile of 1967).
Last updated: September 2, 2024