Cover image courtesy of Coolmore Stud
As a three-time Group 1 winner and former champion European colt, Almanzor is the best-performed representative of Wootton Bassett (GB), who has been purchased by Coolmore from Haras d’Etreham.
“Wootton Bassett’s sale to Coolmore reflects the esteem in which he is held in Europe and we are delighted to be standing his best son Almanzor at Cambridge,” Cambridge Stud Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre.
“Our thanks go to those shareholders who supported us in what was, at the time, a leap of faith for Cambridge Stud under its new ownership and the New Zealand industry.
“Almanzor has covered two full books of mares in his first two years at stud in New Zealand and will cover a full book again in 2020. His first crops of foals in both Hemispheres are outstanding.”
“Almanzor has covered two full books of mares in his first two years at stud in New Zealand and will cover a full book again in 2020.” – Henry Plumptre
Trained by Jean-Claude Roget, Almanzor won eight of his 11 starts including the Prix du jockey Club, Irish Champion S. and the Ascot Champion S. at Group 1 level.
He is from the first crop of Wootton Bassett, who was unbeaten in his first four starts for trainer Richard Fahey in the UK before capping his juvenile campaign with a victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere to earn French Champion 2-year-old honours.
“From his initial small crops in France, Wootton Bassett has achieved outstanding results,” Coolmore’s David O’Loughlin said.
“His first crop of just 23 foals included Classic winner and European Champion 3-year-old Almanzor, he’s had two other colts finish second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and two fillies finish second, beaten only a nose, and third in this year’s G1 French Guineas.
“He strikes us as a real Classic stallion, he gets a very good type and is a total outcross with his pedigree free of the major European forces like Sadler’s Wells, Galileo, Montjeu, Danehill, Green Desert, Invincible Spirit, Danehill Dancer and Dubawi.
“We are thrilled that he is coming to Coolmore and are very excited about what he might achieve when paired with our Galileo mares.” – David O’Loughlin
“We are thrilled that he is coming to Coolmore and are very excited about what he might achieve when paired with our Galileo mares.”
Up-and-coming sire
A son of Iffraaj (GB), Wootton Bassett is also the sire of the Group 3 winners The Black Album (Fr), Wootton (Fr), The Summit (Fr) and Wooded (Ire).
He has had eight stakes winners already in 2020, putting him even with Night Of Thunder (Ire), Kingman (GB) and Lope De Vega (Ire).
“It has been an amazing journey, a real pleasure and a great ride for everybody at Etreham to be involved in Wootton Bassett’s stud career as he established himself as the most exciting up-and-coming sire in Europe,” Haras d’Etreham’s Nicolas de Chambure said.
“With his best-bred crops yet to run I have no doubt that he has a brilliant future ahead of him and the quality of the broodmare band at Coolmore will give him a wonderful opportunity to continue his upward trajectory.
Wootton Bassett (GB) | Standing at Coolmore Stud
“It is of course with a touch of sadness that myself and the team at Etreham will see him leave the farm however, we are looking forward to the first yearlings this year by his best son Almanzor and to retire the dual Group 1 winner Hello Youmzain in 2021.
“I would also like to thank all the shareholders and all the breeders that have supported Wootton Bassett during his eight seasons at Etreham.”
The Normandy-based operation shares in the ownership of Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) with Cambridge Stud.
