Wootton Bassett Provides Millionaire Top Lot On Day 1 Of Arqana

A son of Wootton Bassett topped the opening session of the Arqana August Sale when bringing €1.4million from online bidder Resolute Bloodstock.

John Stewart, a growing force in US racing, bid online for the prized colt and later said, “This one jumped off the page. Under the first dam, there is already a full-brother who has already done well, and he's the perfect kind of colt for our programme. He was the perfect specimen.”

The full-brother mentioned by Stewart is Grade 3 scorer Guildsman, while Wootton Bassett’s three-time Group 1 winner Almanzor features under the second dam. The January-born colt was bred by Barronstown Stud and consigned by Haras d’Etreham.

A daughter of Wootton Bassett lit up the ring earlier that afternoon when knocked down to Kieran Lalor of Al Shira’aa Farms for €600,000. La Motteraye offered the filly, who is the third foal out of Prix de Diane heroine Channel, who hails from the family of Chicquita (Montjeu) and Magic Wand (Galileo).

“Wootton Bassett is a sire that we love,” Lalor commented. “We breed to him, so it makes sense for us to go after these fillies. Channel was obviously a Classic winner, so she suits our programme.

“We’re very excited to have her. It’s a Wootton Bassett over Galileo kind of cross which has already had success. She’s a beautiful filly and she deserved that price. We’d love to see her as a Classic type.”