Unbeaten Group 3 Winner Heads Wootton Bassett Treble

Topgear (2c Wootton Bassett - Miss Lech, by Giant’s Causeway) became Wootton Bassett’s fifth Group/Stakes winning two-year-old of the season when extending his unbeaten record in the Group 3 Prix Eclipse at Chantilly.

The Fabrice Chappet-trained bay was sent off favourite for the six furlong sprint, having won both his previous starts, and was reunited with regular rider Stephane Pasquier on Friday. Shaken up to lead after the two furlong marker, he was driven out to hold off Best Flying by a neck, as the pair drew four and a half lengths clear of the third.

Another step up in class may now be on the cards for the Hisaaki Saito-owned colt, who holds an entry in the Group 1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere next month. Bred by Snig Elevage, Topgear was bought by Chauvigny Global Equine as a yearling for €200,000.

Black-type performer Millau (3g Wootton Bassett - Sage Melody, by Sageburg) completed a double on the card for Wootton Bassett when landing a Class 2 contest over six furlongs. Olivier Peslier partnered Francis-Henri Graffard’s charge to beat Group 3 winner Reina Madre by two and a half lengths in the colours of owner/breeder HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Earlier that day at Ayr, the Kevin Ryan-trained Green Team (2c Wootton Bassett - On The Line, by Green Tune) landed the seven furlong novice stakes on his second start.

Delivered late by Shane Gray, the bay led from 110 yards out and kept on well to score by a length, with another half a length back to Wootton’Sun (Wootton Bassett) in third. Ryan later said, “I'm not sure if he'll run again this season, he's going to be a lovely horse over ten furlongs next year.” Green Team is owned by Ahmad Al Shaikh and was bred by Haras d’Etreham.