French Stakes Double for Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett will shuttle to Australia this spring and was making news in France on Sunday with a stakes double at Deauville courtesy of unbeaten two year-old filly Zellie (2f Wootton Bassett x Sarai, by Nathaniel) and quality four year-old mare Speak of the Devil (4m Wootton Bassett x Moranda, by Indian Rocket).
The Andre Fabre trained Zellie was a hot favourite for the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure (1400m) and scored an easy three length victory, her third win from three starts.
Zellie is the first winner for Sarai, a placed half-sister by Nathaniel to Group I winner Speciosa and Group III winners Major Rhythm and Special Meaning.
She is the 19th stakes-winner worldwide for Wootton Bassett.
Making it a stakes double on the day for Wootton Bassett was Speak of the Devil, the Frederic Rossi trained mare scoring a short head win in the Listed Prix de la Calonne (1600m) taking her overall record to three wins from nine starts.
It was the second stakes success for Speak of the Devil, who was second in the Group I Deauville Poule d'Essai des Pouliches last year.
She is a half-sister to Group III winner Morando from Moranda, a half-sister by Indian Rocket to Group III winner Myasun and stakes-winner Matwan.
Wootton Bassett stands in Australia this spring at a fee of $71,500.