Wootton Bassett Filly Stars at Karaka for $800,000
Wootton Bassett made a big impression at the 2024 NZB National Yearling Sale Book 1 with seven of his first crop Southern Hemisphere bred yearlings selling at an average $328,571 to be the leading first crop sire by average and third overall.
Top seller for Wootton Bassett was his stunning filly from blue-blood Fastnet Rock mare Via Napoli that made $800,000 for Curraghmore when bought by Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) / Cheung Shun Ching.
Bred in Australia by Fairway Thoroughbreds and foaled and raised at Segenhoe, the filly is a half-sister to Group III placed Petrucci and her dam is a winning half-sister to Group I winner Gathering and Group III winner Florentina, the dam of four time US Group I winner In Italian. This is the Twyla branch of the Dancing Show family that has also produced Group I winners Desert Lightning and Tom Kitten this season.
Successful purchaser Damon Gabbedy of Belmont Bloodstock has been the Australian and New Zealand representative for French auction company Arqana since 2008, so he has become familiar with the progeny of Wootton Bassett.
“There was a lot of competition for this filly,” he said. “She’s a beautiful filly from a proper pedigree. I go to France every year with my role with Arqana, so I’ve seen a lot of good Wootton Bassetts, and this is one of the most outstanding types I’ve seen.
“And I think the pedigree speaks for itself. She’s closely related to a champion, In Italian, and from a proper pedigree with good depth. She’s from a great breeder, John Camilleri, and raised at Segenhoe, so hopefully we’ll have a bit of luck with her.
“Wootton Bassett is a proven stallion already, so I think he’s a no-brainer. He’s a champion stallion, and I reckon he’ll do the same down here as he’s done in the northern hemisphere, for sure.
“I bought her for a new client from Hong Kong, so that’s good. We don’t know who the trainer is yet, so we’ll just leave her here for a little while and figure that out in the next month or two.”
Highest priced colt for Wootton Bassett was the handsome near black colt from Influencer that made $500,000 for Haunui Farm when bought by Waller Racing/ Mulcaster Bloodstock.