It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
A race for fillies and older mares, the Pretty Polly has been won by some outstanding females and many have gone on to great success at stud with Whirl a worthy winner to hopefully follow in their footsteps.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Whirl was last seen finishing second to her stablemate Minnie Hauk in the Group I Epsom Oaks after winning the Group III Musidora Stakes.
She led and controlled the race under Moore and when race favourite Kalpana loomed up to challenge, Whirl turned her away and forged on to win by a length and a quarter in a remarkable win.
“Whirl is very special and Ryan [Moore] gave her a great ride. For a filly coming back from a mile and a half and when you're trying to outstay a rival, it's very difficult. You're walking a tightrope but he got it spot on,” said Aidan O’Brien.
“She's the ultimate racing machine and it was an unbelievable race to watch. Colin [Keane] and Ryan weren't giving each other an inch the whole way. That's what you want to come racing to watch.
“It makes it very special and I think it's a race we will remember for a long time. We saw in the Oaks that she wasn't surrendering and we saw it again today. She could go for the Nassau or York for the Yorkshire Oaks. She has so many options.”
A G3 winner at two over 1m, Whirl has now won four of eight starts.
“Whirl has kept progressing. It took her awhile to break her maiden. I was a bit disappointed in her first run this year, but Aidan was very sweet on her chances today coming back in trip,” said Ryan Moore.
“She is a very straightforward filly. The stallion already has had some day!”
A homebred for Coolmore, Whirl is the first winner for blueblood Galileo mare Salsa, a full sister to Group I winners The United States, Hermosa and Hydrangea, the dam of this Group I placed stakes-winner Wingspan.
Whirl is the 15th Group I winner for Wootton Bassett, who enjoyed a winning treble at The Curragh that was very nearly a quartet.
His two year old filly Beautify and colt Dorset both saluted, the former winning the Group II Airlie Stud Fillies Stakes (6f) with the latter opening his account with an easy win in the 7f fillies maiden at her second start.
In the Group III Anglesey Stakes (6 ½ f), Wootton Bassett also had the favourite in speedy colt Flushing Meadows, who won on debut earlier this month. He had to settle for second after being run down late by Starspangledbanner filly Suzie Songs to be beaten a short half head.
All of the four key Wootton Bassett horses are trained by Aidan O’Brien, who is working this breed out quickly with the current two and three year-olds the first of his stock conceived at Coolmore in Ireland following the beginning of his stud career in France.
Beautify was third on debut last month and made a swift progression to stakes class to beat the well seasoned race favourite Lady Iman by two lengths.
“Ryan [Moore] gave Beautify a lovely ride. She had a lovely run first time and she has come forward since then, so I am delighted,” said Aidan O’Brien.
“Wootton Bassett is an incredible stallion, the speed that they have and they stay as well which is incredible.”
Another homebred for Coolmore, Beautify is a half-sister to Group I placed stakes-winner Library from Group III winning Dansili mare Words, a daughter of Group I Irish Oaks winner Moonstone.
It’s a prolific Black Type family renowned for producing Group I winners that also include Australian WFA star Ceolwulf.
Beautify is the 65th stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett, who is currently the leading sire in Europe by overall earnings and will be back in Australia this spring at a fee of $385,000.
