Sandown Success for Wootton Bassett

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday August 18

Coolmore will stand outstanding European sire Wootton Bassett (GB) in Australia for the first time this spring and the proven Group I sire has a most promising Australian winner in Rapid Achiever (FR), who made it two wins from two starts when scoring at Sandown on Wednesday.

Advertisement

Rapid Achiever goes two for wo at Sandown - image Pat Scala / Racing Photos

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the French bred mare bolted in on debut at Donald on August 1 and had no trouble stepping straight up to a Benchmark 64 event over 1600m for fillies and mares.

She enjoyed a good run behind the leaders and showed good determination when it counted at the finish to win by a neck under John Allen.
 


“She’s still quite raw and got an excellent ride from Johnny (Allen), who nursed her through the race and when he needed to dig in and find the reserves he did, so I think there’s more to come,” said David Eustace.

“She’ll tick through the grades for now, but obviously she’s a mare that we would like to get Black Type with in the future.”

Purchased by renowned Australian bloodstock agent John Foote for 130,000 euros from the Arqana October Yearling Sale, Rapid Achiever runs for a syndicate of owners and looks to have a bright future.

She is the first winner for Diavola, a half-sister by Duke of Marmalade to stakes-winner Dalkova from the family of Group I stars Daliapour, Darshaan and blue hen Darara.

Wootton Bassett is a Premium stallion, click for more information.

Completely free of Danehill blood, Wootton Bassett is a proven outcross sire that stands at a fee of $71,500 this spring. He enjoyed strong results at the Arqana Yearling Sale this week with his best result a colt sold for 500,000 euros, read about it here.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Easy Form (Bm64) 1600m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:41.56
1
Rapid Achiever
- 4m Wootton Bassett (GB) x Diavola (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 59.5
2
0.3
White Hibiscus
- 5m Animal Kingdom (USA) x Bianca (NZ) (Painted Black (JPN))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Alana Kelly 58
3
1.1
Grazie Mille
- 7m Danesis (IRE) x Sandgate (USA) (Giacomo (USA))
Tnr: A W Keenan Rdr: C Newitt 55.5
4
1.2
Just Stellar
- 9m Redente (AUS) x She's Just Ace (AUS) (El Moxie (USA))
Tnr: C J Davis Rdr: Madison Lloyd 53.5
5
2.2
Pina
- 6m Reset (AUS) x Estrela Flicka (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: Damian Lane 58
6
3.2
Lady D'Oro
- 5m Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Morrego (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Josh Richards 60.5
7
3.5
Jungle Jane
- 7m Jungle Ruler (AUS) x Debecca (AUS) (Archway (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Tolson & Ms L Proctor Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 56.5
8
4.8
Olivia's Game
- 4m Myboycharlie (IRE) x Lisas Lago (AUS) (Lago Delight (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Prebble 59
9
5.1
Silver Lake
- 5m Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Silver Blossom (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: D R Brideoake Rdr: Damien Thornton 60.5
10
6.1
Rich Dane
- 5m Needs Further (AUS) x This Moment (AUS) (Savoire Vivre (GB))
Tnr: Jerome Hunter Rdr: Celine Gaudray 57.5
11
18.1
Sweet Pickings
- 6m Atomic (AUS) x Picalero (AUS) (Picnicker (AUS))
Tnr: Brittany Raymond Rdr: Ms J Da Rose 57
More Reading...
$5.25million Zougotcha - Waller Stars Set Sale Ring Alight
Chris Waller Racing consigned two of the stable’s superstar older mares to the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday with Zougotcha (Zoustar) selling for $5.25million and Atishu (Savabeel) for $2.7million.
Widden Purchase MM 2YO Classic Winner for $1.35million
Widden Stud were active at the top end as a vendor at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday and also as a buyer securing Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Skirt the Law for $1.35million.
2025 Stud and Stable Staff Awards Winners Announced
The 11th annual Stud and Stable Staff Awards celebrated the winners of seven categories at The QT Hotel on the Gold Coast on Monday, 26 May. The ceremony, hosted by Ally Mosley and James Tzaferis, honoured the exceptional contributions of staff across the Australian thoroughbred industry, with winners representing five states highlighting the national breadth of talent within the industry.
14 Mares Sell for $1million or More - $5.25m Zougotcha the Star
Triple Group One winner Zougotcha became the most expensive horse sold at auction in the Southern Hemisphere this year when she realised $5.25 million at today's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
US Group I Winner for Zoustar
On a day when Widden Stud’s Zoustar produced the $5.25million top seller Zougotcha at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale he also sired a new Group I winner in North America where King of Gosford won the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (1m) at Santa Anita.
James Harron Buys Lady Laguna for $2.5million
Astute bloodstock agent James Harron is no stranger to success at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale having purchased elite $6million earning Group I sprinter Sunshine in Paris at the Gold Coast for $3.9million in 2023.
Alsephina $1.1million and Amazonian Lass $1million
They followed each other through the sale ring at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday with Alsephina selling for $1.1million to Katsumi Yoshida followed by Amazonian Lass for $1million to Nocab Racing Pty Ltd/Kestrel Thoroughbreds.
Widden Stud Sell Climbing Star for $2.1million
Group I winning Zoustar mare Climbing Star started life at Widden Stud as did $5.25million mare Zougotcha and now they will find themselves back together in the paddock at Coolmore after Tom Magnier purchased both of them at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday.
Wootton Bassett 2YO Colt Wins G3 – Royal Ascot Next
The big meeting at The Curragh overnight produced an exciting new two year-old stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett with Albert Einstein making it two wins in as many starts when taking out the Group III Marble Hill Stakes (6f).
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 27
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.