News - WODETON (AUS)
They were saving the best for last at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale with Godolphin and Coolmore locking horns over an exceptional colt by Wootton Bassett that was ultimately sold for €4.6million (A$7.4m) setting a new record at this sale.
The late Wootton Bassett (GB) has two well credentialed first season sires in Australia this spring on opposite sides of the country in Wodeton and Royal Patronage (Fr) and sired his 92nd stakes-winner worldwide overnight with new 2YO SW Sergei Diaghilev.
Gone too soon, Wootton Bassett (GB) sired four of the eight winners at Newcastle on Saturday and then overnight delivered a knockout blow to Europe’s best sprinters when four year-old stallion Comanche Brave captured the Group I July Cup (6f) at Newmarket.
The late Wootton Bassett (GB) will have three sons at stud in Australia this spring with Wodeton and Royal Patronage (Fr) joining Wooded (IRE) and while he is known for his juveniles, his stock also train on with the Wathnan Racing owned Native Warrior taking out the Group III Ballycorus Stakes (7f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Two of the most influential forces in the Australian thoroughbred industry, Coolmore and Newgate, are delighted to announce that Wodeton, the highest-rated two-year-old of his generation as rated by Timeform, will stand at Newgate in 2026 after Newgate acquired an interest in the colt from Coolmore and partners, who will retain an ongoing ownership interest.
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Godolphin heavy hitters Broadsiding and Golden Mile, back as a gelding from a failed attempt at stud, were heat winners at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning, but our interest was in the juveniles with Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton out to enjoy a leisurely tick over trial, while another unraced son of Wootton Bassett (GB) also caught the eye.
Within minutes of Wodeton passing the winning post at Rosehill on Saturday bookmakers had moved to elevate the Wootton Bassett (GB) colt to firm favouritism for the $5million Group I ATC Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 22.
The lure of the $1million Group III ATC Golden Gift at Rosehill on Saturday week has drawn out some fascinating two year-olds to the trials in Sydney this week with a pair Wootton Bassett (GB) colts running the quinella at Warwick Farm and a filly we have already seen looking sharp and ready for her next engagement.