Wootton Bassett Leads Euro Sire List

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday June 11

The European flat season is in full swing with three year-old classics unfolding in the UK, Ireland and France, plus all the glitter and glamour of Royal Ascot looming next week and sitting at the top of the sire list by earnings is Wootton Bassett (GB).

Set to arrive back in Australia later this spring at Coolmore at the increased fee of $385,000, Wootton Bassett is one of those rare sires that gets a golden opportunity and grabs it with both hands.

We’ve all seen a myriad of sires over the years show promise, get snapped up by a better farm or stand for an increased fee and then quietly fizzle out or just remain on a par with what they were doing.

Wootton Bassett was plucked from a flying start in France at Haras d’Etreham in 2020 and given the ultimate opportunity at Coolmore covering the best of the best and with the first of the Coolmore conceived youngsters now three we are really seeing a change in gear for him.

Sourced from Racing Post Leading Sires in Europe 2025.

Wootton Bassett sits on top of the European Sires List by earnings with 60 winners that include 14 stakes-winners which is double that of Frankel and Lope de Vega and three in advance of Dubawi on 11.

Advertisement

His three year-olds are the driving force of that success and include nine of those SW’s highlighted by the Group I French 2000 Guineas winner (Henri Matisse) and French Derby winner (Camille Pissarro), while Whirl and Tennessee Stud placed in last weekend’s Epsom Oaks and Derby.

Wootton Bassett (GB), click for more info.

His next wave of two year-olds are making their presence felt with nine winners from 18 starters headed by Group winner Albert Einstein and that’s the tip of a large iceberg.

Wootton Bassett is back for a fifth season in Australia and for those breeders that have already utilised his talents – he has covered 626 mares in his first four seasons – there must be a sense of satisfaction that you have indeed backed a winner.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 28
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
Sires With Winners - Friday September 26
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bred to Win a Caulfield Guineas?
It’s been a good weekend for Yarraman Park's champion sire I Am Invincible with a G1 winner and a colt soon to roll the dice in a G1 of his own.
Pedigree Watch – G1 European 2YO
Juveniles took centre stage overnight in the UK and Ireland with a pair of Group I races decided at Newmarket in the Middle Park Stakes (6f) for the colts and Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) for the fillies, while at The Curragh a field of 30 lined up in the Goffs Million, the richest 2YO race in Europe.
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Beiwacht Breaks Track Record In G1 Golden Rose Romp
With many of the opinion that Godolphin would provide the winner of this year’s $1m Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (1400m), they were right, but not with the 3yo expected as the Chris Waller trained Bivouac colt Beiwacht was simply sensational in his track record breaking victory.
Favourite Whisky On The Hill (GB) Wins Listed R.M. Ansett Classic
With just a small field of seven runners jumping away in the Listed MRC R.M. Ansett Classic (2415m) at Mornington on Sunday, it was the Glen Thompson trained Whiskey On The Hill (GB) (Ribchester) who took the prize, securing his first black type victory.