Wootton Bassett (GB)

Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) arguably set the standard in Sunday's G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S. at Newbury and while he had to work he was able to prevail in a tight finale to the seven-furlong Guineas trial. Successful in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster in September before finishing ninth in the G1 Dewhurst S. on a soft surface at Newmarket in October, the 7-4 favourite was on contrasting ground here and may have been feeling it racing in mid-division early under Pat...

Breeders and buyers anticipating the upcoming first 2-year-olds by Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Europe were provided a boost in recent weeks at the sales in Australia and New Zealand, where the triple Group 1 winner's first Southern Hemisphere yearlings were warmly received. After his three yearlings sold at Magic Millions averaged A$506,666 with a top price of A$800,000, Almanzor went on to be leading first-season sire at Karaka Book 1 with 43 sold for an average of NZ$190,698. Almanzor, who is based at his birthplace Haras d'Etreham in...

GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has exited her Keeneland victory in good order and will be hopefully kept in training next year owner Alison Swinburn revealed, subject to input from trainer James Fanshawe. A winner of the G1 Prix Jean Romanet earlier in the season, it was the first Breeders' Cup win for both parties. "Last night was one of the most exciting, most thrilling, amazing nights of my life," said owner Alison Swinburn to the GBRI notes team. "We were screaming...

Group 1 winner Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}-Frida La Blonde {Fr}, by Elusive City) has been retired and will stand at Haras de Bouquetot in France next year. A fee for the winner of the 2020 G1 Prix de l'Abbaye will be announced later. "Wooded stood out from the day he arrived for his good looks and ability and he was very sound, never missing a day's work," said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. "In the G3 Prix Texanita he announced himself as a potential superstar and we were confident he would...

There as a slow-motion finish to the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines on Sunday, where Al Shaqab Racing's 3-year-old Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) gave his all to prevail in a drawn-out finale. Missing the kick a touch but able to grab the rail under Pierre-Charles Boudot, the 13-2 shot who had captured the six-furlong G3 Prix Texanita at Chantilly May 13 was marginally ahead passing the two-furlong marker. After seeing off his close companion Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), the lightly-raced bay hit the line a...

The 784-strong Arqana-Osarus October Yearling Sale catalogue is now online. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the sale has been completely restructured combining the Arqana October Yearling Sale and the Osarus September Yearling Sale, running from Oct. 19-Oct. 23. Alumni of the October sale include Group 3 winner and dual Classic bridesmaid The Summit (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), MGISW Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), G1 French 1000 Guineas runner-up Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Basset {GB}), and GSWs Policy of...

Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was two-for-two and the pick on form entering Saturday's G2 bet365 Champagne S. at Doncaster and he emerged with that tally extended after ousting TDN Rising Star Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal) for the prize. Successful in a strong renewal of the Listed Pat Eddery S. over this seven-furlong trip at Ascot last time July 25, the Richard Hannon trainee was anchored in rear early by a confident Pat Dobbs with the pace ahead searching and honest. Always travelling best looming down the outside of...

Ascot's two-day meeting continued to supply 2-year-olds with abundant promise on Saturday, with the Stella Artois British EBF Novice S. playing host to a new TDN Rising Star as Shadwell's Akmaam (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) stamped his class on the seven-furlong contest. Always travelling easily on the front end under Martin Dwyer, the 12-1 shot opened up passing two out and galloped out strongly to the line for a four-length success from Siam Fox (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), with Arqoob (Ire) (Estidhkaar {Ire}) another half-length away in third. "He's...

Group 1 winner Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will make her next start in either the G2 Moyglare 'Jewels' Blandford S. at The Curragh on Sept. 13 or the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Oct. 4, trainer James Fanshawe has revealed. The winner of the Aug. 23 G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet last out, Audarya was second in a Saint-Cloud listed affair as a 2-year-old in September of 2019. "She is in the Blandford on Sept. 13, but that might come a bit quick and she would have a penalty...

The catalogues for Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale were released on Tuesday, with a half-brother to 2019 G1 Investec Oaks heroine Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 965) one of the highlights. A total of 816 yearlings will go through the ring in Book 2 from Oct. 12-14, while 602 lots are catalogued for Book 3 from Oct. 15-16. Book 4 features 83 yearlings set to go under the hammer on Oct. 17. Alumni of Book 2 include champion and MG1SW sprinter...

There was a surprise in store in Sunday's G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet as the James Fanshawe-trained Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) took a significant jump in class to provide her trainer with a third renewal of this 10-furlong Deauville feature since 2014. Coming off a Newcastle handicap win over this trip Aug. 2, the 48-1 shot tracked the pace travelling easily and when committed by Ioritz Mendizabal grabbed the advantage before the furlong pole. Challenged by Ambition (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) all the way to the line, the bay who...

Following the precedent set by Petricor (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the previous race, Shigeo Nomura's Midlife Crisis (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) posted a more straightforward display to earn a  'TDN Rising Star' badge of his own in Tuesday's Prix Le Bougnat, a 7 1/2-furlong newcomers' test for colts and geldings, at Deauville. The 46-5 chance was away in second and quickly asserted for an early lead. Comfortably holding sway thereafter, he was shaken up in front passing the quarter-mile marker and powered ever clear under mild coaxing in the closing...