The late Wootton Bassett (GB) posted his first new season juvenile stakes-winner overnight in Ireland with the Group III Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Stakes (6f) going to Victorious.
A homebred for the Coolmore partners, the Aidan O’Brien trained Victorious won on debut at the same track last month and was a short priced favourite for this assignment with Ryan Moore to ride.
She was made to work for the win with the Amo Racing first starter Controlla (Night of Thunder) throwing down a big challenge and two fillies pulled six lengths clear of their rivals with a neck separating them at the post.
“She’s still green, but she’s a lovely filly. I’m delighted with that,” said Aidan O’Brien.
“Ryan just said he followed two and they died in front of him at halfway and he got left there. She was a bit green when she was in front, but it was good for her. The Albany (G3 Royal Ascot) is the plan for her.”
Victorious is a half-sister to Group III winner Sugar Island and Group III placed Mother Nature becoming the second stakes-winner among four winners from blueblood Galileo mare Heaven on Earth, a full sister to Champion Fillies Minding (dam of Rosemont Stud’s shuttle sire Henry Longfellow (IRE)) and Tuesday, as well as Group I winner Empress Josephine and Group III winner Kissed by Angels.
Victorious was one of two stakes-winners on the program for Wootton Bassett with three year-old filly Wannabe Royal taking out a Listed race to claim her first Black Type success.
The sire of 83 stakes-winners worldwide, Wootton Bassett died in Australia last spring at the height of his powers with his final foals to be born here later this year.
