Guineas Contender for Wootton Bassett

Proven Group I sire Wootton Bassett is shuttling to Australia this spring for Coolmore and he featured in the UK on Sunday when his stakes-winning juvenile of last season Chindit (3c Wootton Bassett x Always a Dream, by Oasis Dream), returned to win the Group III Greenham Stakes (1400m) at Newbury.

Trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Pat Dobbs, Chindit won his first three starts last year including the Group II Doncaster Champagne Stakes.

He hit the line hard in his seasonal return, powering home over the final furlong to win by a neck.

“If you look at the races Chindit has won, he's not been ultra impressive. When he won the Champagne Stakes he was getting up late and he's done exactly the same there, but he's a very willing horse. I'd rather he was winning like that than being fancy,” said Richard Hannon.

“It looks like he wants a mile, although halfway through the winter I thought he might want six. At the end of the day he's won a very good Listed race at Ascot, a Champagne Stakes and he's come back and won a Greenham.

“I don't think you can do much more than what he's done. He's very reliable and has a good chance in the Guineas - I don't think he needs to be frightened of anything.”

Chindit was a 65,000 guineas purchases from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and is the first winner for Always a Dream, a winning Oasis Dream mare from the family of Group I Epsom Derby winner Motivator.

He is one of 17 stakes-winners by Wootton Bassett, who was acquired by Coolmore last year and stands for a fee of €100,000 in Ireland.