The European flat season is in full swing with three year-old classics unfolding in the UK, Ireland and France, plus all the glitter and glamour of Royal Ascot looming next week and sitting at the top of the sire list by earnings is Wootton Bassett (GB).
Set to arrive back in Australia later this spring at Coolmore at the increased fee of $385,000, Wootton Bassett is one of those rare sires that gets a golden opportunity and grabs it with both hands.
We’ve all seen a myriad of sires over the years show promise, get snapped up by a better farm or stand for an increased fee and then quietly fizzle out or just remain on a par with what they were doing.
Wootton Bassett was plucked from a flying start in France at Haras d’Etreham in 2020 and given the ultimate opportunity at Coolmore covering the best of the best and with the first of the Coolmore conceived youngsters now three we are really seeing a change in gear for him.
Wootton Bassett sits on top of the European Sires List by earnings with 60 winners that include 14 stakes-winners which is double that of Frankel and Lope de Vega and three in advance of Dubawi on 11.
His three year-olds are the driving force of that success and include nine of those SW’s highlighted by the Group I French 2000 Guineas winner (Henri Matisse) and French Derby winner (Camille Pissarro), while Whirl and Tennessee Stud placed in last weekend’s Epsom Oaks and Derby.
His next wave of two year-olds are making their presence felt with nine winners from 18 starters headed by Group winner Albert Einstein and that’s the tip of a large iceberg.
Wootton Bassett is back for a fifth season in Australia and for those breeders that have already utilised his talents – he has covered 626 mares in his first four seasons – there must be a sense of satisfaction that you have indeed backed a winner.
