High profile Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) begins his Australian covering season today and he featured overnight with a new juvenile stakes-winner in Ireland where Ides of March scored a resounding victory in the Group III Round Tower Stakes (6f) at the Curragh.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Ides of March was a short priced favourite after making good progress with a fourth and third at his first two runs in June and July followed by a big win at the Curragh to shake off his maiden tag earlier this month.
Ides of March was in a class of his own at the finish, pulling clear to win by more than three lengths.
“Ides of March is a powerful, fast horse. He finds it very easy to go quick. He travelled very easy through the race and he ran straight today. He looks like a Middle Park (G1) horse,” said Aidan O’Brien.
Ides of March holds entries for several upcoming Group races including the Group I Middle Park Stakes (6f) at Newmarket on September 28.
Bred by Phoenx Thoroughbreds and raced by the Coolmore partners, Ides of March is the second winner and first stakes-winner from Group I winning Scat Daddy mare Nickname, who has a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett that will be offered in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Denali Stud as agent as Lot 148.
Ides of March is the 47th stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett and is his fourth two year-old stakes-winner this year among 20 juvenile winners.
Wootton Bassett looked in great shape at the Coolmore parade last weekend with his first Australian bred progeny racing here this season.
