Three members of Rossi family arrested in France

Group 1-winning trainers Frederic Rossi, Cedric Rossi, and Charley Rossi were among 15 people taken into French police custody Tuesday, according to multiple published reports in France and England. The arrests took place in Marseille and Paris as part of an investigation into doping and forgery, the reports said.

Cedric and Charley Rossi are nephews of Frederic Rossi. The Rossis are a prominent multi-generational racing family from southern France. Also swept up in the probe is Jessica Marcialis, Charley Rossi’s partner. The two teamed up in fall 2020 to win the Group 1 Prix Marcel-Boussac with the filly Tiger Tanaka, who was sold earlier this month at Tattersalls in England.

This past weekend, Rougir, who won the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera before finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf for Cedric Rossi, topped the Arqana Breeding Stock sale in Deauville, bringing about $3.37 million. Peter Brant and a partner purchased Rougir, a 3-year-old expected to race again in 2022.

Cedric Rossi also trains Sealiway, a 3-year-old colt who won the Group 1 Champion Stakes in October at Ascot. Trained as a 2-year-old by Frederic Rossi, Sealiway finished fifth in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland.