News - WOOTTON BASSETT (GB)
Champion trainer Chris Waller and champion jockey James McDonald enjoyed a G1 double at Flemington on Saturday with two special horses in the Hermitage Thoroughbreds colours and the first of them to salute was classy Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Stormy Marco, who won the $3million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m).
Exciting colt Coniston was destined for the sales ring as a yearling, however, unfavourable x-rays curtailed those plans, which has proven to be a blessing in disguise for owner-breeders Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax of Blandford Lodge, who now have a Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) favourite on their hands.
Coniston got his Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) campaign back on track at Te Rapa on Labour Day when claiming the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m).
The opening race at Sandown on Wednesday produced a well bred winner with lightly raced Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Boys Bounce opening his account at his second race start carrying the famed colours of John Singleton.
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.
Outside of the top four just once in his previous 12 starts, 3yo Wootton Bassett (GB) gelding Wise Inlaw was rewarded for his consistency, winning the $175,000 Listed VRC A.R. Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Yarraman graduates have had a hot run of stakes success this season and the $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday delivered another feature winner with victory going to progressive juvenile Marwooba, a $400,000 Magic Millions purchase from Yarraman Park for Hawkes Racing.
A quick back up and a couple of gear changes proved winning decisions for progressive Wootton Bassett (GB) juvenile Marwooba, a $400,000 Magic Millions purchase from Yarraman Park for Hawkes Racing.
Back in the winter of 2023 the hottest sprinter in the country was Think About It, who roared to victory in the Group I BRC Stradbroke as favourite and while his half-brother Royal Air Force will never scale those heights, the three-year old is now a winner!
A trip to the Queensland winter carnival remains in the mix for talented colt Excite but the immediate focus is on another domestic black-type target.
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable were to the fore at Te Rapa on Saturday when progressive juveniles Excite and Incandescent produced a feature race quinella in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m).
SA based Rathmore Lodge are in Sydney for the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale next week with another great draft of youngsters and Stormy Marco, one they sold at this sale in 2024, led home a Chris Waller trained trifecta in the $160,000 Clarendon Stakes (1400m) at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
The powerful Chris Waller stable is lethal at this time of year in the juvenile races with a raft of well bred youngsters looking to step out before season’s end and three of them filled the trifecta at Kembla on Wednesday led by well bred Wootton Bassett (GB) filly Katoto.
A four time Group I winning earner of $10.8million, Fangirl has been a darling of the Sydney racing scene for a long time and her half-sister Bella Wahine broke the ice at Randwick on Monday.
Regally-bred filly Avantaggia closed out her season in winning fashion at Ellerslie on Monday when taking out the ANZAC Day 3YO (1200m), her second win in succession.
Blueblood filly Avantaggia has earned herself a tilt at black-type following her victory in the Porirua Club Punters Handicap (1200m) at Otaki on Saturday.
La Diem belied her odds at Ellerslie on Saturday when taking out the MyRacehorse 1600, and now stakes targets are in the offing for the regally bred filly.
The $300,0000 Group II ATC Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday was chosen as the kicking off point in Australia for highly rated Yulong colour bearer Barnavara (IRE), who topped the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year when selling for 4.8million guineas.
The $200,000 Group III MRC Zeditave Stakes (1200m) was the first stakes race on a quality packed card for Caulfield on Saturday with race fit Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Pallaton taking the prize over last year’s Group I Blue Diamond hero Devil Night.
Wootton Bassett (GB) had a couple of very good colts – Napoleonic and Wodeton - resume from a spell to run the placings behind gun filly Tempted in the Group III ATC Eskimo Prince Stakes last Saturday and we saw another come out and break his maiden at Wyong on Tuesday.