A well bred Wootton Bassett (GB) colt on the improve, Botanist opened his account with a bold front running win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday bringing a timely update for his half-sister headed to Magic millions in the Coolmore draft.
The late Wootton Basset was one of those stallions whose progeny can excel over all distances and he will have two runners in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday and in the meantime we saw a taste of his merit as a staying sire at Randwick on Saturday when his French bred five year-old Wootton Verni (Fr) won the $750,000 Group III ATC Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m).
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott may well have won a Cox Plate and a Melbourne Cup this spring had their imported stayer Sir Delius (GB) not been ruled out following vetting scans, but the disappointment of that experience has in no way dampened their enthusiasm for the European product.
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
The $240,000 Group III MVRC Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday was turned into a procession when the field turned for home as Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Napoleonic loomed up out wide and charged clear to win as he pleased.
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
Current Runners Accepted
Saturday, December 6
Beaumont Race 3 - 1250m Maiden
Barking Mad (ex: Invincibella) Tnr: Chris Waller Rdr: Jeff Penza
Doomben Race 7 - 1200m Open
Wootten Hyde (ex: Boudicea Belle) Tnr: Jim Mason Rdr: Martin Harley
Doomben Race 9 - 1200m Open
Shadwell Lane (ex: Word For Word) Tnr: Jim Mason Rdr: Andrew Mallyon
Doomben Race 10 - 1600m Open
Lyneham (ex: Fanatic) Tnr: Chris and Corey Munce Rdr: Martin Harley
Gold Coast Race 6 - 1400m Maiden
British Gem (ex: Miss Que) Tnr: Kris Lees Rdr: Matthew Palmer
Sunday, December 7
Sha Tin Race 1 - 1650m Class 5
Atomic Beauty (ex: Loyale) Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: Andrea Atzeni
Sha Tin Race 2 - 1200m Class 5
Viva Chaleur (ex: Mezzo Mezzo) Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: Brenton Avdulla
Tuesday, December 9
Ballina Race 6 - 1400m Maiden
British Gem (ex: Miss Que) Tnr: Kris Lees Rdr: Andrew Mallyon
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