John Singleton Purchases $800,000 Wootton Bassett Filly

John Singleton dispersed the bulk of his thoroughbred portfolio last year and sold his prized Strawberry Hill Stud at Mount White, but he can’t quite let go of his passion for racing and breeding and commissioned champion trainer Gai Waterhouse to find him one horse at Magic Millions.

Waterhouse settled on the Coolmore Stud consigned Wootton Bassett (GB) filly from brilliant Group II winning mare Champagne Cuddles and secured the good looking bay with a bid of $800,000.

“Singo wanted to put his finger in the water and he said you’ve got one horse to buy,” said Gai Waterhouse.

“He gave me the brief and that was it. The only horse for Singo.

“He said, ‘I only want one horse and if you like it, buy it’. I do like her, she’s very feminine and she moves very freely.”

The filly is the second foal of Not a Single Doubt mare Champagne Cuddles, a multiple Group winner that won over $1.4million and was purchased by Tom Magnier at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2020 for $2million.

Her first foal, a colt by Justify, was sold by Coolmore for $700,000 at Magic Millions last year to Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd/TFI/Annabel Neasham Racing Pty Ltd and now named French Empire, has had two quiet trials for Annabel Neasham.

Champagne Cuddles produced a filly last year by Home Affairs and is now back in foal to Justify so there is a bit happening for this exciting family that will give John Singleton plenty of interest going forward.

“I think John, until the day he dies, will always be buying. He just loves the sport, he just loves it. He’s just a truly a great enthusiast,” Waterhouse added.

“Most people as they get older give up certain passions, but he hasn’t.”