€1.4million Wootton Bassett Colt Tops Arqana Opening Session

The Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale kicked off on Friday with US investor John Stewart and his Resolute Racing securing the top lot when bidding €1.4million for a colt by Wootton Bassett that is closely related to his champion son and Group I sire Almanzor.

Consigned by Haras d’Etreham, the dark bay colt from Aga Khan Studs bred Street Cry mare Dardiza is a full brother to Group III winner Guildsman and his dam is a half-brother to triple Group I winner Almanzor, who is of course by Wootton Bassett.

The star colt was in keen demand with MV Magnier the underbidder and while Stewart remained in the US, his representative Gavin O’Connor was in Deauville.

"Physically he's an outstanding horse. We have two beautiful (Wootton Bassett) colts out of War Front mares back home on the farm in Kentucky and we're really high on them; they're beautiful models. I saw a lot of them in him, and vice versa,” O’Connor said after the sale.

“He's a big walker, very elegant and classy. He met the balance that I like to see. He's stallion prospect material."

While the colt will ultimately find his way to North America he will head to the UK for now to be broken in there and have his early education before decisions are made as to where his future will lie.

Wootton Bassett also had a big result with a filly from Group I Prix de Diane winner Channel selling for €600,000 to Al Shira’aa Farms.

The blue blood filly comes from the family of Group I stars Magical Romance, Alexandrova, Prudenzia, Chicquita and Philomene and was offered in the was consigned by La Motteraye Consignment.

“She’s a lovely filly that ticks all the right boxes,” said Al Shira’aa Farms manager Kieran Lalor after signing the docket.

“She is by Wootton Bassett, which we really like, and her dam is a Classic winner by Nathaniel, a stallion that we also really appreciate. We’re very happy! She’ll first go to the stud in Ireland and we’ll decide her next step from there,” he said.

Wootton Bassett is back in Australia this spring with his first locally bred juveniles to race this season.