€1.4million Wootton Bassett Colt Tops Arqana Opening Session

Tara Madgwick - Saturday August 17

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.

Wootton Bassett colt from Dardiza - image Arqana / Zuzanna Lupa

Consigned by Haras d’Etreham, the dark bay colt from Aga Khan Studs bred Street Cry mare Dardiza is a full brother to Group III winner Guildsman and his dam is a half-brother to triple Group I winner Almanzor, who is of course by Wooton Bassett.

The star colt was in keen demand with MV Magnier the underbidder and while Stewart remained in the US, his representative Gavin O’Connor was in Deauville.

"Physically he's an outstanding horse. We have two beautiful (Wootton Bassett) colts out of War Front mares back home on the farm in Kentucky and we're really high on them; they're beautiful models. I saw a lot of them in him, and vice versa,” O’Connor said after the sale.

“He's a big walker, very elegant and classy. He met the balance that I like to see. He's stallion prospect material."

While the colt will ultimately find his way to North America he will head to the UK for now to be broken in there and have his early education before decisions are made as to where his future will lie.

Advertisement

Wootton Bassett also had a big result with a filly from Group I Prix de Diane winner Channel selling for €600,000 to Al Shira’aa Farms.

Wootton Bassett filly from Channel that sold for 600,000 euros.

The blue blood filly comes from the family of Group I stars Magical Romance, Alexandrova, Prudenzia, Chicquita and Philomene and was offered in the was consigned by La Motteraye Consignment.

“She’s a lovely filly that ticks all the right boxes,” said Al Shira’aa Farms manager Kieran Lalor after signing the docket.

“She is by Wootton Bassett, which we really like, and her dam is a Classic winner by Nathaniel, a stallion that we also really appreciate. We’re very happy! She’ll first go to the stud in Ireland and we’ll decide her next step from there,” he said.

Wootton Bassett (GB) is back in Australia this spring for Coolmore with his first locally bred juveniles to race this season.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
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.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juddmonte Bred Orchid Bouquet Sells For Record 550,000 Guineas at Tattersalls July Day 2
rade soared on the second day of the Tattersalls July Sale with a new record price of 550,000 guineas for Juddmonte’s ORCHID BOUQUET and four lots realising 300,000 guineas or more. The median and average were up 67% and 60% respectively from the equivalent day in 2024 and the clearance rate was an impressive 91%.
NZB Counts Down to 100th National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026, set to take place at NZB’s Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand.   
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Debut Win for Expensive Capitalist 2YO
An $800,000 Magic Millions purchase from Attunga Stud for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, Capitalist colt Caesar was the highest priced yearling by his sire sold in 2024 and made a winning debut at Gosford on Thursday.
Two powerful additions announced for Equate 2025
The countdown to Equate '25 just got even more exciting. Australasia's number one innovation event for the thoroughbred industry has announced two brand-new sessions that bring together transparency, technology, and tangible takeaways for all attendees.
Pencarrow takes top billing in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Pencarrow Stud’s select offering of four broodmares proved to be the star attraction in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus on Wednesday, earning the two highest prices of the sale.
Quantity and quality in Rich Hill Stud’s Online Breeding Stock Sale draft
Rich Hill Stud is a prominent player in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, offering more than 10 percent of the 87-lot catalogue.