The Wootton Bassett (GB) show rolls into Karaka this week and given the response to his first Southern Hemisphere bred yearlings at Magic Millions earlier this month we can expect serious interest in his offering of nine yearlings for the NZB National Yearling Sale Series Book 1.
A proven Group I sire in the Northern Hemisphere, the rise of Wootton Bassett has been well documented. A Group I winning son of Iffraaj, Wootton Bassett rose from humble beginnings in France to being acquired by Coolmore and standing at their Ireland headquarters at a fee of €200,000 in 2024.
Those humble beginnings were pretty humble as you can see in the table below that shows his foal crop numbers and SW’s.
|
Crop |
Foals |
SW’s – Best Performers |
|
2013 |
23 |
2- G1 Almanzor |
|
2014 |
18 |
0 |
|
2015 |
45 |
1 |
|
2016 |
47 |
3 – G1 Audarya |
|
2017 |
92 |
13 – G1 Wooded |
|
2018 |
88 |
3 - G1 Incarville |
|
2019 |
98 |
6- G1 Zellie |
|
2020 |
82 |
5 – G1 King of Steel, Al Riffa |
|
2021 |
129 |
7 – G1 Bucanero Fuerte, Unquestionable |
Increased quality of mares and opportunity has proven Almanzor was no fluke and Wootton Bassett is well on his way to bigger and better things with another crackerjack crop of two year-olds to run for him in Europe this year , while his 17 juvenile winners – seven SW’s- in 2023 hold the promise of much more to come as their classic season unfolds.
His selection of yearlings for Karaka features some obvious standouts and they are all listed below.
Lot 4 Filly Wootton Bassett (GB) x Dark Heather – Carlaw Park
Fourth foal of an unraced half-sister to brilliant Group II winning sprinter Heatherly, dam of Group III winning juvenile Red Resistance from the family of Group I winner Linton.
Lot 142 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x Influencer – Haunui Farm
Second foal of a placed half-sister to Group I Queensland Oaks winner Miss Keepsake and Group II winner Villifye.
Lot 185 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x Legless Veuve – Woburn Farm as agent for Morning Rise Stud
Fourth foal of Group II winner Legless Veuve, who is now the dam of a winner Horns (3g Justify (USA), a winner at Canterbury at his second start. From the family of NZ Horse of the Year Probabeel and Group I winners Never Been Kissed and Savvy Coup.
Lot 274 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x O’Marilyn – Woburn Farm
Half-brother to Group II winner O’President from Group I winner O’Marilyn, a half-sister to Group I winners Headturener and Anacheeva.
Lot 359 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x Romantic Vision – Haunui Farm
Third foal of an unraced half-sister to Group III winner Tralee Rose from the family of Group I winners Serenade Rose and Trekking.
Lot 385 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x Semillon (IRE) – Cambridge Stud
First foal of an unraced import with impeccable European bloodlines tracing back to the family of world champion miler Goldikova.
Lot 423 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x Soubrettes – Curraghmore
Half-brother to Group III placed Toscanini from Group III winner Soubrettes from the family of Group I winner Star Satire and this season’s Group I placed 3YO I Am Unstoppable.
Lot 513 Filly Wootton Bassett (GB) x Via Napoli – Curraghmore as agent for Fairway Thoroughbreds
Half-sister to Group III placed Petrucci and is second foal of a winning half-sister to Group I winner Gathering and to the dam of four time US Group I winner In Italian with this branch of the Dancing Show family also producing Group I winners Tom Kitten and Desert Lightning last year.
Lot 644 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x Charmont – Pencarrow Stud
From Group I winner Charmont, a daughter of SW Martique and half-sister to the dam of SW Meg. From the family of Group I winners Champagne, St Reims and Bonneval.
