Cover image courtesy of Arqana
What more can you say that hasn't already been said about Wootton Bassett (GB)? If Aidan O'Brien was asked to sum up the stallion, you can be sure the words, different, special and unusual would be the first ones to be ticked off that bingo card.
Even the most cynical of people will have to start agreeing with the master of Ballydoyle's appraisal of Coolmore's most expensive stallion standing in Europe following the exploits of Henri Matisse, Camille Pissarro and Whirl, who from the first crop of runners conceived since he moved to Ireland, have won Classics and Group 1 races this season.
No surprise then that after day two of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, Wootton Bassett is the leading sire on every metric here in Deauville and, along with Coolmore going to €2.3 million (AU$4.1 million) to secure the most expensive horse to sell at the sale thus far, even Godolphin pushed the boat out to spend €1.3 million (AU$2.3 million) on a filly and a colt by the stallion on Sunday.
Wootton Bassett colt heads to Coolmore
It was MV Magnier who secured the top lot, who was consigned by Haras des Capucines on behalf of Jean-Philippe Dubois of Haras des Fresnaux, with Amo Racing, an online bidder and bloodstock agent Jason Kelly involved in the battle.
Magnier said, “He's a lovely horse and Wootton Bassett is doing very well. We had his brother in Ballydoyle and he was nearly a very good horse. All the guys really liked this fella and Wootton Bassett is flying at the moment. In fairness to Mr Dubois and everyone involved, they've always been a big supporter of ours and are very good breeders. Michel Zerolo was always praising this horse a lot so let's hope he's good.”
The Wootton Bassett colt is out of Invincible Spirit mare High Celebrity, who won a Group 3 herself before placing behind Tiggy Wiggy – later bought by Coolmore for 2.1 million gns (AU$4.6 million) – in the Cheveley Park Stakes in 2014 when trained by Andre Fabre. High Celebrity has already produced two Stakes horses, including Highbury, who O'Brien trained to finish second in last year's G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.
Magnier added, “He's a very nice horse by Wootton Bassett bred by one of the best breeders in France. It's a lot of money, I appreciate that, but he's a good horse and Wootton Bassett is breaking all the rules at the moment. The boss man (John Magnier) is here and it was his call.”
Dubois has retained High Celebrity, according to Capucines boss Eric Puerari, who showered the top lot with praise.
He said, “I'm very happy for the breeder, Jean-Philippe Dubois, who has a great operation, both Flat and trotting. He's a leader in his business, and he goes to the best stallions. He kept this very good racemare, the dam of that beautiful colt. The price was deserved, because the colt was exceptional all along. All the main players were on him and we knew it was going to go like this.”
Godolphin doubles up on Wootton Bassett
Coolmore has not been shy about supporting Godolphin stallions for nearly a decade now, notably in the case of Dubawi, and that love was reciprocated on Sunday when Anthony Stroud spent €1.3 million (AU$2.3 million) on two Wootton Bassett yearlings on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed's powerful operation.
The seven-figure spend on the progeny by the stallion was headed by Lot 103, a €900,000 (AU$1.6 million) colt out of Hidden Breeze (Dark Angel), a sister to G1 Matron Stakes runner-up Lily's Angel from Haras d'Etreham. Godolphin also landed a Wootton Bassett filly out of Listed scorer Flighty Lady (Sir Percy) from Haras du Cadran for €400,000 (AU$720,000).
Stroud commented, “The stallion speaks for himself – he's done so well. He is a top-class stallion and is very versatile.”
For Haras d'Etreham, the sale at €900,000 of Hidden Breeze's colt marked a poignant record. “It's our best result selling a yearling by Wootton Bassett,” said Nicolas de Chambure, the man chiefly responsible for getting the stallion's career off the ground when standing him at Etreham in his early years.
“We've been better at breeding good Wootton Bassetts than selling expensive ones. His dam is a young mare and it's great to be able to get a good result in the ring, but obviously we hope he is good on the track for Godolphin. It's great to have them here and supporting us like that so I hope he is very lucky for them.”
When it comes to breeding good colts by Wootton Bassett, Etreham was responsible for the first of them, the European champion 3-year-old Almanzor (Fr). Though he is now a permanent resident at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, his parting gift to his breeders was this year's Prix de Diane winner Gezora, who was bought privately in training by Peter Brant of White Birch Farm.
“It's been a good season on the track and, as we advertised a little bit before the sale, we try to race a few who haven't made it to the sale and sell them later, so we are an open market at any time of their career,” de Chambure added.
Tweenhills reluctantly parts with a gem
Tweenhills Farm arrived in Deauville with its first draft of August yearlings and sold all three at an average of €566,667 (AU$1.01 million), including Lot 140, a colt by Siyouni (Fr) out of one of Sheikh Fahad's earliest Group 1 winners, Lightening Pearl (Marju). The final bid of €1.25 million (AU$2.2 million) was placed online with the buyer later being identified as the American Racing Corporation, an unfamiliar name in racing circles.
Speaking as he exited the ring, David Redvers of Tweenhills said, “I feel slightly sick. We've been a full-blown operation for a long time and we've never had a nicer colt than this with a stallion's pedigree. So obviously I am sick to see him go.
“When Sheikh Fahad saw him for the first time he said that he thought he was the best horse we've ever bred on the farm and I'll take that as a major compliment. We've underbid him here and now I have to go to find out who bought him.”
Best is yet to come?
The general chat has been that the best is yet to come on Monday but already the figures are looking pretty healthy, highlighted by an 11% rise in the average. After some day one jitters, the figures took a big step forward on Sunday, with the average for day two alone up a massive 25% compared to this day last year. The Sunday session also posted a rise in the aggregate – up 12% to €15,035,000 (AU$26.9 million) – while the clearance rate was up 2% to 85%. The overall clearance rate for the sale stands at 78% – up 3% on last year.
Baker and Hong Kong active
The Hong Kong Jockey Club purchased two horses on the second day of the sale, spending €180,000 (AU$320,000) on a Churchill (Ire) colt out of unraced mare Middle Channel (Epaulette) from vendor Louvière. He is from the family of Hong Kong’s Champion and the world's highest earning racehorse Romantic Warrior (Acclamation).
Hong Kong Jockey Club also spent €70,000 on a colt by Champion Sire Dark Angel from Yeomanstown Stud’s draft. He is out of winning mare Laudine (Camelot) and his second dam is Listed winner Tadris (Red Ransom).
On the first day of the sale, trainer Bjorn Baker spent €200,000 (AU$360,000) on stable star Arapaho’s half-brother by New Bay. Out of Listed winner Alzubra (Dansili), the colt was consigned by Monceaux and is also a half-brother to G3 Colin Stephens Stakes winner Athabascan (Almanzor) and Listed winner Alula Borealis (Kendargent).
