It was a big weekend for Wootton Bassett (GB) on two fronts with his exciting Australian Group II winner Royal Patronage (Fr) successful at Randwick, while in France he had a new two year-old stakes-winner overnight and another unbeaten juvenile that promises stakes success.
The Group III Prix la Rochette (1400m) at Longchamp was won in good style by the Christopher Head trained colt Houquetot, who made it three wins from four starts when he forged clear to win by three-quarters of a length for Aurelien Lemaitre.
“Wootton Bassett is quite the stallion and what a stallion he is,” said Christopher Head.
“I really like this horse, I love his attitude and that was perfect today. He behaves really well in his races and it it bodes well for his next race, which will be the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1). With that in mind, it was the plan not to have a hard race today and Aurelien [Lemaitre] did a very good job. He goes on soft ground, he's truly a miler and he will be in all the mile races next season.”
Purchased for €280,000 at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale by Mandore International Agency / John Hammond, Houquetot carries the colours of Al Shaqab Racing and is the first winner for Group III winning War Front mare Happen, a half-sister to Group winners Somehow, Alex My Boy and to the dam of Group I winner Aspetar.
Happen is a daughter of Champion 3YO Filly Alexandrova, who won the Group I Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks so longer trips should be no problem for Houquetot.
Houquetot is the 48th stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett, who has another up and coming juvenile star in Maranoa Charlie, who is also trained by Christopher Head for an Australian ownership group.
He made it two wins from two starts at Chantilly on Saturday when he bolted in by eight lengths over a mile and is looking to step up to stakes company for his next start.
Maranoa Charlie was bought for €220,000 at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale by the Broadhurst Agency and is the first winner from Koubalibre, a winning half-sister by Galileo to Group I winner Tiggy Wiggy.
Wootton Bassett has sired 22 juvenile winners in 2024 and five are stakes-winners plus four more have stakes-placed.
Wootton Bassett is back in Australia this spring at a fee of $192,500 with his first Australian runners set to race this season.
