Glens Falls International Scouting Report: Survie

One of the high-profile offerings during the exclusive Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls last December, Survie sold for more than $2.6 million to Coolmore connections. 

The game plan for the Group 2 heroine, and French classic near-misser, was to achieve a top-level victory before retiring to the broodmare life. British trainer George Boughey had accomplished a similar mission for a previous Coolmore purchase, star sprinter Believing, so Survie was sent to him with the same brief.

Although the first half of Survie’s 2026 campaign hasn’t been exhilarating, the Doreen Tabor colorbearer has either been facing males or racing over trips shorter than ideal. In the Glens Falls (G2) at Saratoga, she stretches back out to 1 1/2 miles for the first time all year. 

Update: The Glens Falls has been rescheduled from Thursday to Sunday after Saratoga was hit by a deluge of rain midweek. 

It’s ironic that Survie crosses swords again with French import Gezora, who beat her when they finished second and fourth, respectively, in last fall’s Prix Vermeille (G1). A different scenario at the Spa could help Survie’s chances against Gezora, the reigning Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner who is trying to regain her former spark.  

Survie isn’t expected to remain among the distaff brigade stateside. If she runs up to form in the Glens Falls, Survie would advance to the August 15 Christophe Clement Turf (G1), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). 

“We wanted to run her against her own sex initially,” Boughey told NYRA publicity, “but if she does show a liking for the track, it's a pretty straightforward decision to keep her out there and race her a couple weeks down the line. One step at a time, but this looks like a nice spot for her at the moment.”

A bid in the Christophe Clement, formerly known as the Sword Dancer, would be especially poignant. Throughout her French career, Survie was trained by the late horseman’s brother, Nicolas Clement, and assistant Frauke Hermans, who became the official co-trainer in 2025.

Survie’s pedigree and classic campaign

Bred and initially raced by Gerard Augustin-Normand, Survie is by Coolmore sire Churchill, one of the champion sons of Galileo. Her dam, Sotteville, is a homebred daughter of the terrific stallion Le Havre. Sotteville scored her signature win over males in the 2016 Derby du Languedoc, and she subsequently placed in a pair of Group races.

Survie put herself on the French classic trail after going 2-for-2 as a juvenile on the all-weather. In her sophomore and turf debut in the 2024 Prix Vanteaux (G3), she was held up in traffic but rallied for third on heavy going. A step up to about 1 1/4 miles in the Prix Saint-Alary (G2) saw Survie finish a closer third.

Overlooked at 26-1 in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (G1), Survie came within a head of springing the upset on the best ground she’d found so far. She had to fight for a seam in the stretch of the about 1 5/16-mile classic, but picked up well to go down narrowly to Sparkling Plenty. Survie outfinished future Group 1 stars Tamfana and Aventure.

Another step up to about 1 1/2 miles helped Survie score a breakthrough in the Prix de Malleret (G2). Favored off her French Oaks effort, she settled a few lengths off the pace in the compact field and clocked her final 600 meters (about three furlongs) in :33.31 - on ground labeled soft - to prevail.

China Horse Club then bought into Survie, but she didn’t furnish dividends in her final outings of the season in deeper company. Seventh to Bluestocking and familiar foe Aventure in the Prix Vermeille (G1), she finished in the same spot behind that dynamic duo on very soft going in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1). 

Survie stuck in minor-award mode in 2025

Survie went winless as a four-year-old, but she often ran well in defeat. Her only poor effort was a tailed-off last in the Prix de Royallieu (G1), an about 1 3/4-mile slog on very soft ground during Arc weekend.

When she found better conditions, Survie did herself justice. Resuming in the 2025 Prix Corrida (G2) on good-to-soft, she worked out a stalk-and-pounce trip, only to be outkicked by odds-on Aventure and relegated to second. 

On good ground in the Curragh’s Pretty Polly (G1), Survie was third-best to Aidan O’Brien’s Whirl and favored Kalpana, who raced in the vanguard throughout. Kalpana has since progressed to topple Calandagan in Saturday’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1). 

Survie again enjoyed good going in the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) at Deauville, where she rallied from last to snatch second to the talented Quisisana. In their wake were Godolphin’s favorite Cinderella’s Dream, the troubled Bedtime Story, and Cankoura, who would eventually ship to Saratoga and go very close in the New York (G1). 

After her series of fine placings in the vicinity of 1 1/4 miles, Survie returned to about 1 1/2 miles for another crack at the Vermeille. But she wound up fourth to Aventure, Gezora, and Bedtime Story. If she was wheeling back a bit quickly from Deauville, the aggressive change to front-running tactics didn’t help either. 

Survie pitched in versus males in Saudi Arabia, Royal Ascot

Once Boughey welcomed her into his yard over the winter, he pinpointed the Feb. 14 Neom Turf Cup (G1) on Saudi Cup Day as her first major target. Survie warmed up with a confidence booster in a Jan. 31 conditions race. The 1 1/4-mile affair on Lingfield’s Polytrack was billed as the “Winter Derby Trial,” but Survie was odds-on to dispatch just two male rivals. It was virtually a work in company as she stalked the pacesetter and strode clear. Survie handled the sharp left-handed track, implying that she could cope with Saratoga’s inner turf.

Unfortunately, the Neom Turf Cup did not set up as smoothly for her. Drawn near the outside in post 10, Survie was anchored at the back early and left with too much to do. The 9-2 chance did well in the circumstances to rally among foes for third. While she wasn’t going to beat favored Royal Champion in any event, she might have challenged veteran globetrotter Facteur Cheval for second with a more advantageous trip.

Survie reverted to female company for her next two starts in Great Britain, but neither played to her strengths. Shortening up to a mile for the Snowdrop Fillies’ S. at Kempton, she closed for fourth. The third-placer, Cathedral, was a Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf participant who has since finished fourth in the Diana (G1). 

The 1 1/8-mile Dahlia (G2) at Newmarket wasn’t one for Survie’s highlight reel, although she did manage somehow to get up for third. Slowly away and never looking comfortable on the undulating course, she tried her best and ultimately improved her position. But she was well behind Jancis (whom she’d beaten in last year’s Pretty Polly) and Cathedral. 

Tackling males in her latest in the 1 1/4-mile Wolferton S. at Royal Ascot, Survie ran better than her sixth-place result on paper. She was stuck in traffic at a crucial juncture before running on, then flattening out a bit late behind Map of Stars.

The Wolferton runner-up, Wimbledon Hawkeye, is well known to U.S. fans as the British shipper who outdueled Burnham Square in last year’s Nashville Derby (G3). Wimbledon Hawkeye just came back to finish a rattling third in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis (G1) at Munich. Another Wolferton alumnus, fifth-placer Persica, just won the Steventon S. at Newbury. 

Boughey explained that the Wolferton was the launching pad for her transatlantic mission. 

“I was delighted with her run at Royal Ascot,” her trainer said. “America had always been a plan for her at some point this summer, and we wanted to make sure we got her in the right condition to travel at the right time of the year.

“It’s very rare you see a filly even run in that sort of race, but it looked the perfect lead-up to us coming to America. Timing-wise, it was perfect, and I hope that she gets a clear run around and can show herself at her best.”

Boughey also revealed that Survie has had gate practice to ensure a sharper start. 

“We've worked pretty hard on her in the gates to get her to jump quicker, and she actually jumped beautifully at Ascot and found a nice position, but Ryan (Moore) was happy to take her back a little bit,” Boughey said. 

“We won't be giving up our draw from (post) one (in the Glens Falls), but at the same time she’s stepping up in trip for the first time in a while for us. I think if she can find a nice position in midfield that would suit us well, and just hope for a clear run.

“She's pretty versatile ground-wise. It was wet there last weekend, but I think we'd be happy on any ground for her. Hopefully she trains nicely through the week, and we can see the real Survie.”

This could be a big week for Boughey, whose star three-year-old, Bow Echo, aims to preserve his perfect record in Wednesday’s Sussex (G1) at Glorious Goodwood. The Sussex is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), but Survie is the one with her eyes set on Keeneland.

“The Breeders’ Cup has been the end goal for a long time,” Boughey said. “She's got a rating to suggest she should be there.”