Wootton Bassett Filly Captures Prix Marcel Boussac

Wootton Bassett celebrated further Group 1 success on Sunday when the Andre Fabre-trained Zellie (2f Wootton Bassett - Sarai, by Nathaniel) ran out an authoritative winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac.

Zellie won her first three starts in the colours of Lavinia Fabre, including at Listed level, before selling privately to Al Wasmiyah Farm, for whom she claimed runners-up honours in two Group 3 contests.

Partnered by Oisin Murphy for the first time at Longchamp, she raced towards the back of the field and made good headway from over two furlongs out. Driven in the final furlong, she stayed on well to score by a length and a quarter, with another three lengths back to the third horse.

Sunday’s success strengthens Fabre’s Classic aspirations for Zellie, with the trainer saying, “I never thought she would be only a two-year-old. She has the scope and ability to be nice next year. We're impatient to see her in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.”

Later on the card, dual Group/Grade 1 heroine Audarya (Wootton Bassett) claimed fourth in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera. Wootton Bassett was on the scoresheet at the 2020 Arc meeting, when Wooded (Wootton Bassett) struck gold in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye.