Progressive Wootton Bassett Colt Notches Group 3 Win

The progressive Wootton Verni (3c Wootton Bassett – Vernie, by Kendargent) became his sire’s second Stakes winner in as many days when landing the Group 3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud on Monday.

The Jerome Andreu-trained colt came into the race with four wins to his name and was last seen finishing second in a Listed race at Chantilly. Stepping up to ten and a half furlongs on Sunday, the bay raced towards the back of the field under Cristian Demuro and was asked to quicken before two furlongs out. Producing a challenge approaching the final furlong, he kept on well to win by a neck from the Group 1 winning favourite Sunway.

Wootton Verni may now step up to Group 1 level, as he holds an entry in next month’s Prix du Jockey Club. Owned by Jean-Pierre Dubois and Jean Claude Seroul, the son of Wootton Bassett was bred by Thierry de la Heronniere with Salabi Racing. His dam Vernie has a yearling filly by St Mark’s Basilica.