The highest priced colt during the opening session of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on Tuesday was the Milburn Creek bred and consigned Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Battleofwinterfell (USA) that sold for $1.7million.
The reigning Champion European 2YO Sire of 2024, Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett has already made an impression in Australia with his first two year-olds including Golden Gift place-getter West of Swindon, plus metropolitan winners Pallaton and Gallo Nero, who will run in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic this Saturday.
The second foal of stakes-placed Declaration of War mare Battleofwinterfell, whose pedigree bristles with North American stakes-winners, the star colt was bought by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock.
“We went a little bit over than what we thought, but a group of us thought he was the best colt in the sale and Wootton Bassett colts are flying, and there’s only ten more to go at Easter,” said Dean Hawthorne.
“We just thought we’d get in and get one. He’s an athletic, lovely moving colt. Anthony Freedman will train him. He loved him. He was my top colt so we aligned and he will race in the red and white colours of Jonathon Munz and partners.
“GSA hasn’t bought here in a while so we wanted to get back into the market. We want to sell down some shares in him, but we don’t care if we don’t as we love him.”
Battleofwinterfell was imported to Australia in 2021 by Milburn Creek owner John Muir, but sadly only had two foals before her premature death in 2023. The first is an unnamed two year-old filly by Capitalist that was sold by Milburn Creek at Inglis Classic last year for $45,000 to Elite Thoroughbreds and the second has been the apple of Muir’s eye since the day he was born.
John Muir spoke with Maree McEwan after the sale.
