Quality sires Wootton Bassett (GB) and Churchill (IRE) were both in Australia for Coolmore last spring and they featured at Longchamp overnight with a pair of exciting three year-olds on track for their classic season ahead.
Winner of the Listed Prix Omnium (1600m) on his seasonal return, exciting Wootton Bassett colt American Flag could not have been more impressive, charging home from last to win the Group III Prix de Fontainebleau (1600m) running away by two and a half lengths.
Trained by Yann Barberot, American Flag has three wins and a second from four starts with Group I goals ahead.
“It could be that I can finally train the top horse I have been dreaming of,” Barberot said.
“This is why we wake up every morning. He has a lovely temperament and does everything easily and it all starts from there.
“I have never pushed him hard, this was not a target and I wanted to keep something in the tank for the major races to come. First, it will be the [May 14] G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and then the [June 4 Prix du] G1 Jockey Club if he shows us that he can stay. The only answer I don't have yet is which ground he prefers. He has always run on soft or very soft, so good is a question mark.”
A 102,000 purchase at the 2021 Arqana Deauville August Sale, American Flag is the first stakes-winner among five winners from good producer Tres Americanqueen, a half-sister to Group winners Tres Blue and Tres Rock Danon as well as stakes-winner Tres Rock Glory.
Wootton Bassett covered 169 mares in Australia last spring and will have his first Southern Hemisphere yearlings for sale in 2024 with a small selection of his weanlings entered for upcoming sales.
Two are in the catalogue for the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale and four have been entered for the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
The Group III Prix de la Grotte (1600m) marked the return of outstanding Churchill filly Blue Rose Cen, who was resuming after finishing her juvenile season with a Group I win in the Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches (1600m)
The Christopher Head trained filly went straight to the front and led all the way to score a dominant length and a half win.
“I am delighted with the performance, because she did it with authority from the front,” trainer Christopher Head said.
“She had a real campaign as a two-year-old and we had to see how she would run first time out. Now she has a race under her belt, she will come on for the run hopefully and head to the French Guineas [the May 14 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches] next.”
A homebred for Yeguada Centurion SLU, Blue Rose Cen is the first foal from dual Group III winner Queen Blossom and has the impressive record of five wins and a second from seven starts.
She is one of two Group I winners for Churchill, who covered 146 mares in Australia last year.
