Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) posted his second Royal Ascot Group winner this week when Epsom Derby runner-up King of Steel captured the Group II King Edward VII (1m4f) overnight.
Trained by Roger Varian, the lightly raced colt was a short priced favourite following his massive effort to finish second to Auguste Rodin in the Derby at just his third start and first run this year.
He showed his class under Kevin Stott to come from last and score a dominant three and a half length win over the Aidan O’Brien trained Heart’s Cry colt Continuous with Galileo colt Artistic Star (from Aussie bred G1 winning mare Nechita) in third place.
“It is relief! When they run so big in the Derby you want them to back it up, we were confident he would, but this is horse racing! We went on the signs that the horse was giving us, that were great. I am delighted for King of Steel, he is a super horse. He is a beautiful horse and for a big horse he is so agile,” said Roger Varian.
“He confirmed today what he did in the Derby, which is very satisfying. Possibly, that is what we'd like to do (go to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris), but a lot can change with horses so let's see how he is tomorrow.”
Bred by Bonne Chance Farm, he was foaled in the US and bought for $200,000 by Amo Racing at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
With two wins and a second from just four starts, King of Steel is the best of two winners from Eldacar, a winning Verglas mare from the family of two time Australian Group I winner Contributer (IRE), now stranding at stud in New Zealand.
King of Steel is the second Royal Ascot Group winner this week for Wootton Bassett joining exciting two year-old colt River Tiber and is his 34th stakes-winner worldwide.
Wootton Bassett will have his first Australian yearlings at the sales next year and returns to Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $93,500.
