Wootton Bassett in Vogue at Karaka

Media Release - Sunday January 26

Wootton Bassett (GB) was in vogue at Karaka on Sunday, with two of the top lots in the opening session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale sired by the Coolmore stallion.

$725,000 Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Il Affare.

Just six lots in, a colt by the boom European sire, from Curraghmore’s draft, was knocked down to the $725,000 bid of Michael Freedman, Michael Wallace and Tom Magnier, the latter standing Wootton Bassett and owning his current Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) favourite Wodeton.

 

He is the first foal out of Nearco Stud mare Il Affare, a daughter of Dundeel who placed in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m), alongside fourth placings in the Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

While Il Affare was a capable stayer, her Group Three-winning half-sister Full Of Beauty earned more than HK$9.5 million in Hong Kong in the 1000m-1200m range.

Advertisement

Sydney-based Freedman was immediately taken by the colt, who will continue a long-term association with Magnier’s Coolmore.

“I just loved him,” Freedman said. “He’s a lovely moving horse and the stallion couldn’t be going any better.

“We’ve known the Coolmore boys for a long time and back in the day, we trained quite a few for them. Tom and I have been chatting for a little while about trying to do something together and obviously he is by their stallion.

“He was a colt that he really liked, so it just worked out well.”

A fan of the sire, Freedman had anticipated the price and expects that to be the standard with his progeny going forward.

“The stallion couldn’t be going any better and I don’t think they’re going to get any cheaper,” he said. “I think there’s 17 of them in the Easter catalogue in a couple of months’ time, so it was about what we thought we’d have to pay.

“We were fortunate enough to have a lot to do with Danehills back in the day and so many of his good ones just had that really relaxed demeanour, and that’s what I’ve seen of his (Wotton Bassett) stock that I’ve had so far.”

$600,000 Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Matagouri.

Later in the day, Cranbourne horseman Mick Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, was also eager to source a colt by the Coolmore sire and was pleased to have the gavel knocked down to his $600,000 bid for lot 103, the Wootton Bassett half-brother to Group Three winner Francesca, who was offered through Windsor Park’s draft.

“I liked it when I looked up and saw A$540,000,” quipped Price, in reference to the exchange rate.

“I think he (Wootton Bassett) is an amazing stallion. We watched the whole story on him – the guy (Bobby O'Ryan) buys him for $200,000 and as a 12-year-old Coolmore buy him for $50 million. It can only be one thing - because his stock goes well.”

Price was also taken by his dam-side pedigree, with his Group Three winner Ayrton featuring further down the page, and he believes the colt has the potential for a future career at stud.

“He is a beautiful colt, and Ayrton is in the family,” Price said. “He is a beautiful stud-type of colt if we can get the right form with him.

“One of my owners, Greg McCarthy, who bred Ayrton, bred him. I haven’t spoken with him yet, but I believe he is keeping 10 percent, Tom Magnier is keeping 10 percent, so we have got 80 percent to go.”

 

Price was also pleased to secure lot 58, a son of his former Group One winner Tarzino, for $180,000 out of Westbury Stud’s draft.

“He (Tarzino) was one of my boys, I was very fond of him,” Price said. “I have spoken with Westbury (Stud, who stand Tarzino) about how to breed that horse, and I think if you breed Tarzino to the sharper mares you get a better horse.

“Jungle Magnate (Group One winner) we bought off Gerry (Harvey, Westbury Stud principal) for $75,000 and he’s out of a mare that had a bit of a turn of foot. I think they are the right Tarzinos, so I was happy to have him.

“I paid a little more for him than I would have liked, but he is a late foal, and he is staying here (New Zealand).” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 performer Lady Telena for sale on gavelhouse.com
Four years after being sold for just $2,750 on gavelhouse.com, Lady Telena (NZ) (Vespa) is back for sale again on the online platform – this time as a Group One performer and valuable broodmare prospect.
Golden Crop is Gift That Keeps Giving
When talented three year-old filly Written Scandal bolted in at Wyong on Thursday to win by nearly six lengths she became the 60th winner from that one golden crop of foals by champion sire Written Tycoon that were conceived at Arrowfield Stud in 2020.
Extreme Choice Filly Tops Arqana February Mixed Sale
The first sale of the year for French auction house Arqana, the February Mixed Sale on Wednesday was topped by an interesting weanling filly by Newgate Farm’s outstanding sire Extreme Choice, who covers a mare a day all year round in Australia in a bid to combat his well documented fertility issues.
Yearling Attention Heads West
The yearling sale caravan moves on to Perth next week after this week’s Classic Sale in Sydney and the Breednet data has tossed up a few highlights.
Long Awaited Return for Legarto
Multiple Group One winner Legarto will make her long-awaited return to racing when she heads to her home track at Matamata on Saturday to contest the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m).
One to Watch – Ipswich
Zousain had a very solid Inglis Classic Yearling Sale with his progeny selling for up to $280,000 off a $22,000 fee and the affordable Widden Stud based son of Zoustar gave us a One to Watch on Wednesday.
Valiant Stud Sell $520,000 Colt by The Autumn Sun
Back in 2022, Valiant Stud had a great result at Inglis Classic when selling a filly by The Autumn Sun from Talimena that made $550,000 and went on to be Group I placed Tulsi and on Tuesday they sold her full brother for $520,000.
Inglis Classic Pinhook Winners
A stronger than expected Inglis Classic Yearling Sale this week produced some great pinhook results with 13 yearlings selling for $80,000 or more above their weanling purchase price, so let’s take a look at the best of them.
2025 National Online Yearling Sale Entries Open
Entries for NZB’s 2025 National Online Yearling Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held on Gavelhouse Plus.
One to Watch – Wyong
When you see Darby Racing, Bjorn Baker and a blue hen, how can that mix not produce a winner?