Million Dollar Mares for Wootton Bassett

At the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Friday night in Sydney, Coolmore’s Tom Magnier was the leading buyer securing three of the top five lots with all three mares destined to covered by exciting new sire Wootton Bassett his spring.

New to Australia, Wootton Bassett is one of the most exciting young sires in Europe where he has sired 17 stakes-winners highlighted by three Group I winners including his Champion 3YO Almanzor.

Priced at $71,500 this spring in Australia, Wootton Bassett will cover a stellar book of mares that will include Group I winner Celebrity Queen, bought for $2.5million, Group I winner El Dorado Dreaming bought for $1.35million and Group II winner Savanna Amour bought for $1.25 million.

Savanna Amour is the only one of the trio that has been to stud and was offered in foal to Champion sire Fastnet Rock after producing a lovely filly by him last year as her first foal.

A homebred for renowned West Australian breeders Bob and Sandra Peters, Redoute’s Choice mare Celebrity Queen topped the Chairman’s Sale this year.

Magnier described Celebrity Queen as “a standout’’.

“We thought she was a queen, we’re very lucky to have her,’’ Magnier said.

“She’s just real quality, a lovely physical.

“Bob Peters is an unbelievable breeder and anything Bob Peters is associated with is always of a very high calibre so we’re just delighted to get her.

“When those kinds of blue hens come into the ring, you know you’re going to have to pay to get them.

“We’ve had the plan for a long time to acquire mares like this for our stallions, we’ll keep going and support these stallions and try and get the best mares possible along the way.’’