New Group I winner for Wootton Bassett
Outstanding sire Wootton Bassett featured overnight siring his fourth Group I winner when exciting filly Incarville (3f Wootton Bassett x Ilhabela, by Azamour) charged home for victory in the Group I Prix Saint-Alary (1m2f) at Longchamp.
Trained by David Smaga and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Incarville unleashed a brilliant finish from back in the field to score a head win running away.
It was the first Black Type win for Incarville, who has been twice placed in Group III races and has the overall record of three wins and three placings from seven starts.
“I'm so happy, it's been a long time since I won a Group I and I want to thank Gerard Augustin-Normand for his support,” said David Smaga.
“Besides her first run when she was unplaced, this filly has never run a bad race. Christophe Soumillon gave her a great ride and we will be back in four weeks' time for the Prix de Diane.”
Owned by Gerard Augustin-Normand and bred by Naji Nahas, Incarville is the best of four winners from Ilhabela, a winning half-sister by Azamour to Champion 3YO French Miler Vahorimix and stakes-winner Vadalix.
The extended family features a plethora of Group I stars including Val Royal, Valixir, Vadamos as well as Vazira and Vadawina, who both won the Prix Saint-Alary.
Incarville is the 18th stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett and is his fourth Group I winner joining Almanzor, Audarya and Wooded.
She comes from his sixth crop, conceived at Haras d’Etreham after his fee was raised to 20,000 euros in 2017, which was up substantially from a modest 6,000 euros the year before.
He now stands at Coolmore Ireland at a fee of 100,000 euros and will visit Australia for the first time this spring at a fee of $71,500.