News - WOOTTON BASSETT (GB)
Fresh from siring a 1.4million colt at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale on Friday, Wootton Bassett was again making waves in France overnight with his two year-old colt Apples and Bananas winning the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage (1600m) at Deauville.
Opening the yearling sales season in Europe, the August Sale began this afternoon with 133 lots going under the hammer during the first session. Of these, 72% were sold for an average price of €226,167, showing very solid results when compared with the average for the same day at the 2023 record edition (-2%), organised in a similar format. Total sales for the session amounted to €21,712
The Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale kicked off on Friday with US investor John Stewart and his Resolute Racing securing the top lot when bidding €1.4million for a colt by Wootton Bassett that is closely related to his champion son and Group I sire Almanzor.
Joseph O’Brien has never been frightened to travel a good horse and tasted G1 success in Germany on Sunday when Wootton Bassett stallion Al Riffa improved off his last start second to City of Troy in the G1 Coral Eclipse to win the Group I Grosser Preis von Berlin (2400m).
With his first Aussie bred two year-olds set to take off in Australia this season, Wootton Bassett (GB) added a new stakes-winner to his tally overnight in France when unbeaten filly Angeal upped the ante to win the Group III Prix Six Perfections (1400m) at Deauville.
From last to first, exciting two year-old colt Henri Matisse scored an eye-catching win in the Group II Railway Stakes (6f) at The Curragh overnight becoming the 44th stakes-winner for his sire Wootton Bassett (GB), who will return to Coolmore Australia this spring.
A winner on debut at Deauville last year and competitive in several Group races in France, three year-old Wootton Bassett colt Evade was having his first start this year and first for new trainer Archie Watson at Epsom overnight in the Listed Surrey Stakes (7f) and scored an eye-catching win.
The Element Hill Dispersal has already had a big payday from Wootton Bassett (GB) when they sold the yearling half-sister by him to Golden Sixty for $1million on Tuesday at the Magic Millions National Sale and they had another big result when selling well related broodmare Single Blonde in foal to him for $1.2million on Thursday.
The Element Hill Dispersal at the Magic Millions National Sale features some intriguing horses but none more so than the yearling-half-sister by Wootton Bassett (GB) to champion racehorse Golden Sixty and she duly attracted plenty of attention on Tuesday before selling for $1million.
A Group I winner last year of the Curragh Phoenix Stakes, Wootton Bassett colt Bucanero Fuerte made his seasonal retuna t Naas overnight winning the Group III Lacken Stakes (6f) in a thrilling finish.
Renowned UK farm Cheveley Park Stud were expected to win the Group I Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (1m) at Newbury overnight with a homebred and they did, but not with the one punters were thinking.
Two new three year-old stakes-winners in two days for Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) with Oaks contender Gala Real successful on Sunday at Longchamp followed by Wootton Verni, who took out the Group III Prix Greffulhe (2100m) at Saint Cloud overnight.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is a big name in the world of soccer, but is also making a mark as a racehorse owner with Wootton Bassett (GB) filly Gala Real, who he co-owns, showing serious Group I potential with a storming win in the Listed Prix de la Seine (2200m) at Longchamp on Sunday.
Coolmore have announced their 2024 roster with 13 outstanding stallions and while perennial favourite Fastnet Rock has earned a well deserved retirement and boom young gun Justify (USA) will remain in Kentucky, there is still a wealth of talent and diversity on offer for Australian breeders seeking to produce their next champion with not one but two Golden Slipper winners in the mix.
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) has been making news in Australia in recent months with his first crop of locally bred yearlings lighting up sales around the country and overnight at Navan in Ireland he posted a brilliant debut winning two year-old with Royal Ascot aspirations.
The Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale tends to be dominated by the established champion sires, but there was still a selection of youngsters by first season sires with Wootton Bassett (GB) again proving super popular with buyers.
The latest chapter in the story of Widden Stud’s star producer Solar Charged played out at Inglis Easter on Monday when her colt by Zoustar sold for $850,000, then her champion daughter Sunlight made a splash when her Wootton Bassett (GB) colt sold for $1.4million and at the Randwick trials her 2YO daughter Clean Energy was an impressive winner.
Our analysis of Australian Studbook covering statistics for 2023 continues with a look at the second and third crop sires last year and these are the guys whose first foals were being born last spring and whose first yearlings are selling right now.
The Inglis Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 featured strong representation by a wide range (21 in total) of first season sires and once again Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) made his presence felt.
If you only read one thing today, make it this Racing Post Bloodstock story featuring Aidan O’Brien and his thinking on stallions, pedigree and what really makes the good racehorses and champions.