G2 Winner Topgear Adds to Wootton Bassett Winning Week

It’s been a big week for Wootton Bassett with a new juvenile Group I winner last Sunday in Camille Pissarro (2c Wootton Bassett x Entreat, by Pivotal), a 4.3million history making colt at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 and then overnight his classy older galloper Topgear (5h Wootton Bassett x Miss Lech, by Giant's Causeway) posted a career best win in the Group II Newmarket Challenge Stakes (7f).

Trained by Christopher Head and ridden by Stephane Pasquier, Topgear was sent out favourite and scored a dazzling five and a half length win.

Topgear has not missed a place in five starts in stakes company this year with his overall record now an impressive six wins and six placings from 14 starts.

An unbeaten juvenile that won three out of three in 2021, Topgear then missed his classic season completely and is lightly raced heading into his six year old season next year.

“He’s easy to ride and it was an easy win,” said Pasquier.

“Last time at Longchamp was very impressive so I’m happy he’s done that. When he was a two-year-old he was unbeaten and I definitely thought he was a Group 1 horse. He’s coming back slowly so I’m very happy.

“The plan was to go to Saudi Arabia, but there are a lot of good races he can go for now.”

Topgear was a 200,000 euro purchase from the Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale and is the best of three winners from Miss Lech, a winning half-sister by Giant’s Causeway to Group II winner Guilt Trip. The extended family is noted for producing Melbourne Cup winner Americain.

Wootton Bassett stands at a fee of $192,500 in Australia this spring with this first locally bred offspring to race this season.